Part I: “I am no devil, for there is none.”

(Post one in an intended series.)

As Nietzsche observed : “the rise of science, mathematics, and philosophy arose across Europe to displace Christianity as the guiding authority on truth about life and the universe,”¹ which caused a great destabilizing of values — to move from “an absolute incontestable authority telling us how to live our lives,” to not knowing “how we should go about living.” For Nietzsche, the question became: “How can we evolve our values to avoid slipping into meaninglessness and nihilism?”²

Most are familiar with Nietzsche’s statement that “God is dead,”³ but have we ever pondered the equally humanistic⁴ erasure of Satan by the “Enlightenment.” Of course, most religions think they have rejected both the death and erasure notions, but when we compare what science thinks about Satan with what the Word of God / scripture reveals, where might we and many of our churches sit on the continuum? — nearer the science end?

Yes, we lament about all the crime, corruption, and evil in the world; we lament about the failings, pains, and sorrows in our own families and communities, but where do we look for cause? for remedy? for healing? To science, medicine, psychiatry, big pharma? Do we blame human nature? chemical imbalance? bad parenting? personality trait? trauma? pollution? religion? society? culture? and on and on?

This is not to say that Satan is the cause of all trials and tribulations for there is probably parallel in this observation and counsel to do “all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils” (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 46:7).

​But if Satan’s purpose is to destroy the agency of man as scripture tells us,⁵ how conscious are we of his interference with our daily life; with our life’s mission and purpose?⁶ How do he and his servitors – enemies of all righteousness⁷ — spend our / their days? Whispering?

22 And behold, others he [Satan] flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance^[8] (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 28:22).

Can we acknowledge how much whispering goes on? What do we imagine to be the primary source of persistent, oppressing spirits? Have we ever felt the awful chains of:

depression              anxiety
worry                       impatience
confusion                doubt
fear                           anger
pain                          illness
disease                     anguish
hopelessness           obsession
invasive, unwanted thoughts
and on and on?

But how does our enlightened science assess oppressing spirits? What do many of our pastors and ministers counsel? Do they acknowledge or practice what Jesus did⁹?

Asking and answering these questions may help us see where we are on the science vs. Word of God continuum as it relates to unseen spirits. And questioning may also help us know what we can do — what authority we have — as believers in Jesus Christ, His Words, and His Way.

Until the next post, you can review in footnote 10 below many scripture verses concerning the interference, oppressions, possessions, activities, and realities of the thief who seeks “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”¹¹ If we ignore or are ignorant of Satan's devices does he not gain the advantage as the Apostle Paul warned?¹²

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1. According to Jack Maden at https://philosophybreak.com/articles/god-is-dead-nietzsche-famous-statement-explained/
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Meaning intended here: “an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.” (From a google search “humanism meaning”)
5. Pearl of Great Price | Moses 4:3 - 4
   3 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;
   4 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.
6. Old Testament | Jeremiah 29:11
   11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
7. Book of Mormon | Mosiah 4:14
   14 And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.
8. In the context of gospel gestalt, there is no deliverance if there is no repentance, but there is with sincere repentance in a timely way.
9. https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2016/12/what-did-jesus-do_16.html
10. Old Testament | Job 1:7
   7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (Job 2:2)
Old Testament | Isaiah 14:12 - 17
   12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
   13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
   14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
   15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
   16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
   17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
Old Testament | Zechariah 3:1
   1 AND he [the angel] shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
JST New Testament | Matthew 4:1-2
   1 Then Jesus was led up of the Spirit, into the wilderness, to with God.
   2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, and had communed with God, he was afterwards an hungered, and was left to be tempted of the devil.
New Testament | Matthew 4:24
   24 And his [Jesus’] fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
New Testament | Matthew 8:16
   16 ¶ When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
New Testament | Matthew 9:32 - 33
   32 ¶ As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
   33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
New Testament | Matthew 12:22
   22 ¶ Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
New Testament | Matthew 17:15, 18
   15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. ...
   18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
New Testament | Mark 4:15
   15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. (Mark 4:15)
New Testament | Luke 11:14
   14 ¶ And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
New Testament | Luke 13:11 - 16
   11 ¶ And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
   12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
   13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
   14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
   15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
   16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
New Testament | 2 Corinthians 2:11
   11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
New Testament | 1 Thessalonians 2:18
   18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
New Testament | 1 Timothy 4:1 - 2
   1 NOW the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
   2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
New Testament | 1 Peter 5:8 - 9
   8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
   9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
New Testament | Revelation 2:10
   10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
New Testament | Revelation 12:9
   9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 11:31
   31 And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits; and the angel spake and showed all these things unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.
Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:27
   27 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 26:22
   22 And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.
Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 28:21 - 22
   21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
   22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.
Book of Mormon | Mosiah 4:14
   14 And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.
Book of Mormon | Mosiah 16:3 - 7
   3 For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.
   4 Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.
   5 But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. Therefore, he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.
   6 And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption.
   7 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.
Book of Mormon | Alma 12:4 - 6
   4 And thou seest that we know that thy plan was a very subtle plan, as to the subtlety of the devil, for to lie and to deceive this people that thou mightest set them against us, to revile us and to cast us out—
   5 Now this was a plan of thine adversary, and he hath exercised his power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember that what I say unto thee I say unto all.
   6 And behold I say unto you all that this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle you about with his chains, that he might chain you down to everlasting destruction, according to the power of his captivity.
Book of Mormon | Alma 10:25
   25 But Amulek stretched forth his hand, and cried the mightier unto them, saying: O ye wicked and perverse generation, why hath Satan got such great hold upon your hearts? Why will ye yield yourselves unto him that he may have power over you, to blind your eyes, that ye will not understand the words which are spoken, according to their truth?
Book of Mormon | Alma 28:13
   13 And thus we see how great the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression, and the power of the devil, which comes by the cunning plans which he hath devised to ensnare the hearts of men.
Book of Mormon | Alma 30:60
   60 And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell.
Book of Mormon | Alma 34:35, 39
   35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked. ...
   39 Yea, and I also exhort you, my brethren, that ye be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing.
Book of Mormon | Helaman 3:29 - 30
   29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—
   30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out.
Book of Mormon | Helaman 5:12
   12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
Book of Mormon | Helaman 16:22
   22 And many more things did the people imagine up in their hearts, which were foolish and vain; and they were much disturbed, for Satan did stir them up to do iniquity continually; yea, he did go about spreading rumors and contentions upon all the face of the land, that he might harden the hearts of the people against that which was good and against that which should come.
Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 2:2
   2 Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it was wrought by men and by the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people; and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and a vain thing.
Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 6:15 - 16
   15 Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this—Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world.
   16 And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of the people to do all manner of iniquity; therefore they had enjoyed peace but a few years.
   17 And thus, in the commencement of the thirtieth year—the people having been delivered up for the space of a long time to be carried about by the temptations of the devil whithersoever he desired to carry them, and to do whatsoever iniquity he desired they should—and thus in the commencement of this, the thirtieth year, they were in a state of awful wickedness.
Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 7:22
   22 And as many as had devils cast out from them, and were healed of their sicknesses and their infirmities, did truly manifest unto the people that they had been wrought upon by the Spirit of God, and had been healed; and they did show forth signs also and did do some miracles among the people.
Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 9:2
   2 Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall repent; for the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people; and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen!
Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 11:29
   29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 10:5
   5 Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 29:40
   40 Wherefore, it came to pass that the devil tempted Adam, and he partook of the forbidden fruit and transgressed the commandment, wherein he became subject to the will of the devil, because he yielded unto temptation.

Doctrine and Covenants | Section 35:9

   9 And whoso shall ask it in my name in faith, they shall cast out devils; they shall heal the sick; they shall cause the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak, and the lame to walk.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 46:7
   7 But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 52:14
   14 And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations—
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:25 - 39
   25 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,
   26 And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.
   27 And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning!
   28 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—
   29 Wherefore, he maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasseth them round about.
   30 And we saw a vision of the sufferings of those with whom he made war and overcame, for thus came the voice of the Lord unto us:
   31 Thus saith the Lord concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves through the power of the devil to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy my power—
   32 They are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born;
   33 For they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity;
   34 Concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come—
   35 Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame.
   36 These are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels—
   37 And the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power;
   38 Yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath.
   39 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.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:65 - 73
   65 And these signs shall follow them that believe—
   66 In my name they shall do many wonderful works;
   67 In my name they shall cast out devils;
   68 In my name they shall heal the sick;
   69 In my name they shall open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf;
   70 And the tongue of the dumb shall speak;
   71 And if any man shall administer poison unto them it shall not hurt them;
   72 And the poison of a serpent shall not have power to harm them.
   73 But a commandment I give unto them, that they shall not boast themselves of these things, neither speak them before the world; for these things are given unto you for your profit and for salvation.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 86:3
   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.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 124:98 - 100
   98 And these signs shall follow him—he shall heal the sick, he shall cast out devils, and shall be delivered from those who would administer unto him deadly poison;
   99 And he shall be led in paths where the poisonous serpent cannot lay hold upon his heel, and he shall mount up in the imagination of his thoughts as upon eagles' wings.
   100 And what if I will that he should raise the dead, let him not withhold his voice.
Pearl of Great Price | Moses 6:15
   15 And the children of men were numerous upon all the face of the land. And in those days Satan had great dominion among men, and raged in their hearts; and from thenceforth came wars and bloodshed; and a man's hand was against his own brother, in administering death, because of secret works, seeking for power.
Pearl of Great Price | Moses 7:24 - 26
   24 And there came generation upon generation; and Enoch was high and lifted up, even in the bosom of the Father, and of the Son of Man; and behold, the power of Satan was upon all the face of the earth.
   25 And he saw angels descending out of heaven; and he heard a loud voice saying: Wo, wo be unto the inhabitants of the earth.
   26 And he beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced.
11. New Testament | John 10:10
      10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I [Jesus] am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
12. New Testament | 2 Corinthians 2:11
      11 [Forgive] Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

A Latter-day Weeping Jeremiah?

Circa 600 BC the weeping prophet Jeremiah* pled with the errant Judaic kingdom to return to the promises and purposes of its founding — weeping because he knew what was coming — knew of unrepented iniquities.

As we witness and ponder the state of our North American governments, society, and captured culture can we also see what must come? How many warning voices are pleading for our return to founding values? Do we have any weeping, suffering Jeremiahs? — weeping, suffering because we, too, have turned from the promises and purposes of our founding? of our individual creations?

Perhaps we do have a latter-day Jeremiah. Consider Jordan Peterson,¹ who for the past year has been enduring severe illness,² and who just recorded a message (for the first time in many months³) calling us to return to abandoned values.

Will we listen? Will we recognize the rising tribalism that helped destroy at least two prior civilizations on the land? Will we take responsibility? Will we individually repent?

More Relevant Than EVER — A New Years Letter From Jordan Peterson
(Jordan B Peterson Clips | Dec 26, 2025 | Time 20:31 min.) at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKMOVUyMXA0&t=26s

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* Old Testament | Jeremiah chpt 9

1. Prophetic?: Consider also a clip (especially circa min. 22:50) from Episode 475: clip titled Venezuela: What’s Happening and Why It Matters (Original episode 475 posted Aug 26, 2024 with Axel Kaiser; clip from that episode posted on Dec 9, 2025 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnNwIrPrDak
Original Episode 475: Threat From Venezuela | Axel Kaiser | EP 475 (Time 1:36:06 min) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGdrdCiyxN8
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Peterson
2. Dec 2025 Jordan Peterson + General [Health] Update
(Mikhaila Peterson | Dec 9, 2025 | Time 4:55 min.) at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HRoOlbe1kE
https://cbn.com/news/world/jordan-petersons-daughter-asks-prayer-his-recovery-journey-continues
3. NOTE: many JBP posts that appear to be recently posted are clips from episodes recorded prior to his recent 2025 severe illness.

"God Is Mindful of Every People"

*Image source
at bottom

On this symbolic day of remembering, here are just a few of many possible assurances that "God is mindful of every people":

37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen. | Book of Mormon | Alma 26:37

33 ... [F]or he [the Lord] doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile. | Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:33

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. | New Testament | Colossians 3:11

7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? ...
12 For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it. | Bool of Mormon | 2 Nephi 29:7, 12

6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—
7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world. | Book of Mormon | Mosiah 4:6-7

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise and coming, as some men count slackness; but longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. | JST New Testament | 2 Peter 3:9

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. | New Testament | Galatians 3:28-29

9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; | New Testament | Revelation  5:9

-------------------------------------------/
(All bold emphasis added above.)
*Image Source:
Page URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Bible_panorama,_or_The_Holy_Scriptures_in_picture_and_story_(1891)_(14598485757).jpg
Attribution: Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
Authors: Foster, William A. (from old catalog)
Title: The Bible panorama, or The Holy Scriptures in picture and story
Year: 1891 (1890s)

"We Are a Christian _____________"?

Last week, I listened to a rally in London England¹ where people of every nationality, kindred, tongue, and people seemed united in spirit and common purpose, yet one particular declaration sounded dangerously mistaken — the adamant declaration: "This is a Christian nation." But what if such a claim belies a fundamental Christian value — the separation of Church and State? What if the only claim such a gathering of humans can truthfully(?) make is "We are a Christian people"?

As "a Christian people," we claim no power except that of example, persuasion, and prayer, BUT if we claim to be "a Christian nation," the power of the state is implied with all that entails — with the possible eventual repeat of persecutions and horrors that history has documented when church and state were / are conjoined. Many nationalists of every religious stripe harbor the same fantasy:

If only we had the power to reform and purify the people (spiritually, biologically, morally, politically, racially, scientifically, etc.) according to the dictates of our certainties, we could achieve our vision of higher purpose — our desired Utopia.

If such power is acquired, thought and behavior reform agendas (or worse) become paramount and normalized as Robert Jay Lifton documents in Losing Reality: On Cults, Cultism, and the Mindset of Political and Religious Zealotry.

I have already discussed in several posts² what I consider to be the illusions and delusions of Christian Nationalism. And yes, most of us want the escalating corruptions and conspiracies to end. We want people of integrity and virtue to serve us in maintaining civic peace and order, but virtue and integrity are not exclusive to Christians. Our nations are made up of many truth-seekers striving to do good according to their own understandings, studies, and conscience, yet there are also truth-twisters and truth-destroyers. In recent months, we have seen increasingly aggressive rhetoric, not only of some Christian Nationalists pursuing government-assisted reformation and revival, but of other groups touting the need for mandatory re-education, reset, and rejection of  "old culture and customs."

Let us, please, never forget "We are a Christian people" who cherish agency where:

11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may (Pearl of Great Price | Articles of Faith 1:11);

4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul  (Doctrine and Covenants 134:4).

_-----------------------------------------------------------------/
1. CHRISTIANS TAKE OVER LONDON | THIS NATION BELONGS TO JESUS
(Evangelist Daniel Chand | Nov 27, 2025 | Time 16:34) at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CaIsr8VOs0
2.  https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2023/06/a-troubling-trend.html
https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2023/07/back-to-future-again.html
https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2023/08/2-understanding-separation-church-state.html
https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2023/08/4-church-and-state-discerning.htm,
https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2023/09/5-church-state-christian-nationalism.html

Getting a Grip on History?

53 And, verily I say unto you, that it is my will that you should ... obtain a knowledge of history, and of countries, and of kingdoms, of laws of God and man, and all this for the salvation of Zion. (Doctrine and Covenants 93:53).

But how do we get a grip on history "for the salvation of Zion" when we have statements like these?

William "Bill" Casey (CIA Director 1981-1987)
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false."¹

Mike Pompeo (CIA Director 2017-2018, Secretary of State 2018-2021)
"We lied, we cheated, we stole ..."²

The Doctrine and Covenants counsels three times to "seek learning even by study and also by faith" from the best books,³ but where can we find the best books on history when deception has become so normalized? And why study history anyway? Because history is a repeating deja vu? Because history teaches pattern recognition? Because history exposes the ubiquity of deception and secrecy? Because lamentation⁴ in our day is as needed and justified as in the days of Noah, Moses, Ether, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nephi, AlmaX2, Mormon, Moroni, et al. al. al.?

In my experience, one of the best resources for the exposure of deception and secrecy is The Duke Report.com and his substack. Duke's recent inaugural series called "The Explainer"⁵ presents dozens of book summaries that seek to expose "what really happened" and to encourage further study with critical thinking. His introductory vlog explaining the series and his use of AI can be found here.⁶ The topics are eclectic, but here is a representative sample of five:

Wall Street and FDR Explainer
(The Duke Report | Nov 10, 2025 | Time min. 6:49 min.) at
https://thedukereport.substack.com/p/wall-street-and-fdr-explainer
https://youtu.be/eKykRDTHkWM?si=v-ri3Gg9SyaS-u8C



The Mythology of American Democracy Explainer
(The Duke Report | Nov 21, 2025 | Time 6:25 min.) at
https://thedukereport.substack.com/p/the-mythology-of-american-democracy-c2b
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfN2I6zZeF0



Bitten Explainer
(The Duke Report | Oct 20, 2025 | Time 7:14 min,) at
https://thedukereport.substack.com/p/bitten-explainer
https://youtu.be/5krRUA6BVDg?si=jHqH0-zBlR7ehLKG

The Empire of 'The City' Explainer
The Duke Report | Nov 21, 2025 | Time 6:24 min.) at
https://thedukereport.substack.com/p/the-empire-of-the-city-explainer
https://youtu.be/SWcKOZUrVz4?si=S8YrazQQiZrwxiVx

Banking and Currency and the Money Trust Explainer
(The Duke Report | Nov 23, 2025 | Time 6:50 min.) at
https://thedukereport.substack.com/p/banking-and-currency-and-the-money
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4IFGB-5t1w&t=5s

We probably won't ever get a grip on history until we admit our susceptibility to believing "colossal untruths" cooked up by those "who conspire together in the art of lying,"⁷ but there is hope. Many people are awakening to how colossal and "grossly impudent" lies can be.

-----------------------------/
1. *SOURCE: Greg Smith, ... Answered September 22, 2014
Originally Answered: Did William Casey (CIA Director) really say, "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false."?
Ex-DCI Bill Casey's quote was attributed online as reported only by Mae Brussell, and so, I bounced it off Barbara Honegger because I knew she worked for Mae B back in the day, and here's what I got on the ACTUAL SOURCE (talk about luck! - I extracted actual email addresses):
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Barbara Honegger
Date: Sun, Sep 21, 2014 at 11:19 PM
Subject: Re: Conference on THE WARREN REPORT AND THE
JFK ASSASSINATION : FIVE DECADES OF
SIGNIFICANT DISCLOSURES
To: Greg Smith
I told Mae about it when we worked together ...
On Sun, Sep 21, 2014 at 10:32 PM, Greg Smith wrote:
Thanks Barbara! That's priceless. The web attributes it to Mae B only, and therefore, it's discounted in chat and group conversations on social media. You might want to give it better street cred? Your call! On Sep 21, 2014, at 8:59 PM, Barbara Honegger wrote:
» Seriously -- I personally was the Source
» for that William Casey quote. He said it
» at an early Feb. 1981 meeting in the
» Roosevelt Room in the West Wing of
» the White House which I attended, and
» I immediately told my close friend and
» political godmother Senior White House
» Correspondent Sarah McClendon, who
» then went public with it without naming
» the source ...
from https://www.quora.com/Did-CIA-Director-William-Casey-really-say-Well-know-our-disinformation-program-is-complete-when-everything-the-American-public-believes-is-false
2.


Ex-CIA director Pompeo: 'We lied, we cheated, we stole' (GrayZone: April 24, 2019; 0:26 from Q&A at Texas A&M University) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPt-zXn05ac
(also Secretary Pompeo:"Lying, Cheating, & Stealing reminds you of the glory of the American experiment" (10Beads: Time: 0:1:50) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE9zczFARuM
To hear the whole answer to the last question, go to minute 28:22 of the full Q&A:
“Secretary Pompeo Participates in Q&A Discussion at Texas A&M University” (U.S. Department of State, Time: 32:31) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6wbfjspVww
3. Doctrine and Covenants 88:118
    118 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.
Doctrine and Covenants 109:7, 14
    7 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith; ...
    14 And do thou grant, Holy Father, that all those who shall worship in this house may be taught words of wisdom out of the best books, and that they may seek learning even by study, and also by faith, as thou hast said;
4. https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2014/01/gods-lament.html
https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2024/03/isaiahs-lamentations.html
https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2024/03/where-are-lamentations.html
5. https://www.youtube.com/@TheDukeReport/videos
https://thedukereport.substack.com/archive
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv9O_fAy2qU
https://thedukereport.substack.com/p/let-me-splain-you?utm_source=publication-search
7. Hitler: "[T]he broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying."
Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, vol. I, ch. X[1] at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_lie (bold emphasis added)

Can You Imagine?

January 11, 1999
“How genetic engineering 
will change us in the
next century”

Can you imagine the realism of this Time magazine cover from January 11, 1999? Yes, the snake has been a symbol¹ of the medical profession for centuries, but what might be subliminally conveyed in this image where two DNA chains (double helix²) morph into a snake when forecasting “The Future of Medicine: How genetic engineering will change us in the next century”?

Barely six chapters into God’s history of the world, we read:

5 ¶ And GOD saw that the wickedness 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),

so, considering our technified world (some six millennia later?), what might the imaginations of some latter-day hearts be? We know of the imaginations of some Nazis,³ but have we ever considered the imaginations of some in our own land⁴?

Unethical Human Experimentation in the United States⁵
          (Read, weep, and awaken.)

Do we imagine there is no comparison between us and them, because our experiments were done by individuals or small groups versus an entire nation? But what if that all changed with Operation Paperclip⁶?

So back to the Time magazine cover. How many are aware of these facts:

• older dictionaries like my 1976 Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary (Unabridged) list the first definition of “virus” as “venom, as of a snake”⁷;

• early 2020 media reports (even MSM, like CNN) suggested COVID origins linked to snake⁸;

• post-2019 studies in China (2020), France (2020), Italy (2021), United States (2021), and South Africa (2022, 2023) have identified venoms in the blood, urine, and stools of positive-test COVID patients, and that negative-test controls had no such venoms⁹;

• DNA plasmids at their most basic level “are small circular pieces of DNA that replicate independently from the host’s chromosomal DNA.” “They can introduce foreign DNA into another cell.” “The ease of modifying plasmids and the ability of plasmids to self-replicate within a cell make them attractive tools for the life scientist or bioengineer.”¹⁰ As Dr. Ardis describes them: “DNA plasmids, in my opinion, may be the most horrible and terrifying creation of modern science. It is literally a Trojan Horse, a stealth weapon designed with a payload that can make your body kill itself in many ways"¹¹;

• “Scientists study diseases including AIDS, cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and many other deadly diseases using laboratory mice. Humans and mice may not look alike, but almost all the genes in mice share functions with genes in humans. So, humans and mice get the same diseases for the same reasons" [emphasis added]¹²;

• researchers “consume” more mice than snakes do and in doing so the researchers found that injecting mice with two DNA plasmids each containing one-half of a complete cobra venom protein (pre-mRNA)  would cause the mouse in vivo to begin producing cobra venom mRNA within minutes, resulting in the death of every mouse so injected within 6 minutes¹³;

• mice are like canaries in a coal mine for humans; except no one who knew about these dead mice told humans about plasmids and possible versions of pre-mRNA in mandatory vaccines;

• the ability to make venom has been coded into the seeds of some edible plants to serve as insecticides¹⁴;

• someone must benefit if a body never coded to produce venom now does through genetic engineering. Who could the beneficiaries be?

Just as in the days of Noah, imaginations can run the gamut, so what can we imagine conspirators for power, gain, glory and domination might discuss in their simulations, table-tops, and in camera brainstormings? Wouldn’t they imagine every possible vector scenario if they planned a pandemic for purposes of power, gain, glory, and domination? How much damage could a few regional servitors do travelling the globe¹⁵?

What a joy of mockery this must be for the un-bodied mocker of God’s plan of healing and redemption? If man can be genetically modified to produce his own poison, thus ensuring and enduring perpetual sickness, then the (self-deceived) mocker must assume he has finally achieved the “end of man”¹⁶; except, he forgets: God has built in a redundancy of healing modalities because He knew:

4 In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation— (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 89:4).

With every passing day, more data is surfacing and searchable for those who seeing, choose to see, who hearing, choose to hear, and caring, choose to speak up and out.

The most comprehensive exposé of all this is probably Dr. Bryan Ardis’ book: Moving Beyond the COVID-19 Lies: Restoring Health and Hope for Humanity.

So whatever you know or feel (or think you know) about Dr. Ardis, you will do yourself and your loved ones a service by reading and studying this book that details much of the past decade. What the initial virus vector was, whether in water or a myriad other possible  combinations of beverage, food, air-conditioning, “sanitation measures,” etc., etc., (or was perpetuated via jabbing), is undoubtedly known by “snakes in the grass” (with apologies to the non-venomous ones).

Consider also the words of Dr. Shankara Chetty of South Africa, starting circa minute 50 of this interview.¹⁷

Thus, a word to the unwise, but repentant soul: In the present state of pscience,¹⁸ pharmacopoeia¹⁹ is probably not your answer. There are many God-designed remedies that repentant souls can seek out. We can ignore the evidence only so long before it becomes too late to be healed; too late to be awakened as we have been commanded.

23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things [the doings of secret combinations] should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.
24 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.
25 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, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning  (Book of Mormon | Ether 8:23-25, bold emphasis added).

------------------------------------/
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus
2.“In molecular biology, the term double helix[1] refers to the structure formed by double-stranded molecules of nucleic acids such as DNA." | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleic_acid_double_helix
“Deoxyribonucleic acid (pronunciationⓘ[1]; DNA) is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for the  development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses. DNA and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are nucleic acids. Alongside proteins, lipids and complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides), nucleic acids are one of the four major types of macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life." | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA
3. Spitz, Vivien. Doctors From Hell: The Horrific Account of Nazi Experiments on Humans. 
4. Doctrine and Covenants | Section 38:29
   29 Ye hear of wars [and crimes] in far countries, and you say that there will soon be great wars [and great crimes] in far countries, but ye know not the hearts of men in your own land.
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unethical_human_experimentation_in_the_United_States
6. "Operation Paperclip was a secret United States intelligence program in which more than 1,600 German scientists, engineers, and technicians were taken from former Nazi Germany to the US for government employment after the end of World War II in Europe, between 1945 and 1959; several were confirmed to be former members of the Nazi Party, including the SS or the SA." | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Paperclip
7. What is a virus? | Dr Lee Merritt with Dr. Bryan Ardis - Nicotine from A-Z ? (Live Free or Die) https://rumble.com/v6u8ya1-dr-lee-merritt-with-dr.-bryan-ardis-nicotine-from-a-z.html | Go to minute 25 for research on historical definition of "virus".
Also see: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PfMmgl5vrfgIf
8. • https://frontlinegenomics.com/snake-venom-related-enzyme-underlies-covid-19-mortality/ By Sophia Ormiston (2021)
"Snake venom-related enzyme underlies COVID-19 mortality
"Enzyme driving COVID-19 similar to snake venom toxin"
• https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/22/health/snakes-wuhan-coronavirus-outbreak-conversation-partner
"Using samples of the virus isolated from patients, scientists in China have determined the genetic code of the virus and used microscopes to photograph it. ... / "But when the researchers performed a more detailed bioinformatics analysis of the sequence of 2019-nCoV, it suggests that this coronavirus might come from snakes.
• https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210825/Enzyme-related-to-rattlesnake-neurotoxin-linked-with-COVID-19-infection-severity.
• https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/snakes-could-be-the-original-source-of-the-new-coronavirus-outbreak-in-china/
• Jan 22, 2020 | https://scitechdaily.com/snake-pneumonia-coronavirus-outbreak-in-china-traced-to-snakes-by-genetic-analysis/
• https://lens.monash.edu/@coronavirus-articles/2020/05/07/1380319/snakes-alive-venom-may-play-a-role-in-the-fight-against-covd-19
9. https://moc-n-dox.blogspot.com/2025/10/snakes-in-grass.html
10. A plasmid is a small, extrachromosomal DNA molecule within a cell that is physically separated from chromosomal DNA and can replicate independently. They are most commonly found as small circular, double-stranded DNA molecules in bacteria[1] and archaea;[2] however plasmids are sometimes present in eukaryotic organisms as well.[3][page needed][4] Plasmids often carry useful genes, such as those involved in antibiotic resistance, virulence,[5][6][7] secondary metabolism[8] and bioremediation.[9][10] While chromosomes are large and contain all the essential genetic information for living under normal conditions, plasmids are usually very small and contain additional genes for special circumstances. | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasmid
11. Dr. Bryan Ardis, Moving Beyond the COVID-19 Lies: Restoring Health and Hope for Humanity, p. 159.
12. From www.jax.org/why-the-mouse/test-drugs# as quoted by Ardis, p. 160
13. Ardis, pp. 161-165.
14. Compound search insecticide & GMO & wheat, corn etc.
15. https://dejavu-times.blogspot.com/2020/04/questions-for-contagion-trackers.html
16. https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-end-of-man.html
17. Was This Doctor Right About COVID-19 All Along?
(Vital Signs Asia | Oct 6, 2025 | Time 57:47 min.) at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2at1ZB57uEk&t=2941s
18. Pscience is the corrupted offshoot of honorable Science. It is the inevitable consequence of man's obsessive pursuit and protection of power, gain, glory, and domination. Pscience is pseudo, psychopathic, propagandizing, plagiarizing, politicized, psy-opic, and above all, profit-obsessed, and profit-driven. This obsessive pursuit and protection by people without conscience is often enabled by naïve, trusting, or fear-filled acolytes. Pscience is a one-faith, one-dogma, heretic-fearing, self-deceiving, other-censoring system. The 21st Century question is: What are we now enabling or supporting? Science or pscience?
https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2021/12/when-pscience-becomes-god.html
https://dejavu-times.blogspot.com/2021/06/death-of-science-tyranny-of-pscience.html
https://dejavu-times.blogspot.com/2020/10/pscience.html
https://dejavu-times.blogspot.com/2021/07/a-representative-history-of-pscience.html
19. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacopoeia
"A pharmacopoeia, pharmacopeia, or pharmacopoea ..., meaning "drug-making", in its modern technical sense, is a reference work containing directions for the identification of compound medicines. These are published or sanctioned by a government or a medical or pharmaceutical society,[1] giving the work legal authority within a specified jurisdiction. In a broader sense it is a collection of pharmaceutical drug specifications."
https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-sorcery.html
"Interestingly, the New Testament Greek word translated “sorcery” is pharmakeia, which is the source of our English word pharmacy. In Paul’s day, the word primarily meant “dealing in poison” or “drug use” and was applied to divination and spell-casting because sorcerers often used drugs along with their incantations and amulets to conjure occult power."

Weaponizing Dignity*?

If you have not yet heard of the Dignity Index,¹ you likely will in coming days, weeks, and months because the inaugural summit of the Dignity Index is set for October 19-20, 2025 at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center.

Their website presents as:

"Our disagreements aren’t causing the divisions in our country; it’s what we do when we disagree. The Dignity Index® scores distinct phrases along an eight-point scale from contempt to dignity. By focusing on the sound bites, not the people behind them, the Index attempts to stay true to its own animating spirit: that everyone deserves dignity."

Their invitation to take a Dignity Pledge² and to attend the inaugural summit^2a appeals to the good desires and hopes of many for a better world.

As we read their 8-point index,³ it is easy to be impressed with the sentiments expressed, but are we cognizant of the compound nature⁴ of man and all things created by man and thus, the potential for abuse of this Index? Could there be a dark side to indexing speech?

Undoubtedly, most of the co-creators, advocates, administrators, and staff⁵ of the Dignity Index are sincerely endeavoring to do good and create a better world, but the great danger of the Dignity Index will be if we pretend there is no dark use — if, in our increasingly secular world of acceptance, affirmation, and permissiveness, we are blindly led through the wide gate and down the broad way that Jesus warned of:

13 ¶ 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:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (New Testament | Matthew 7:13–14).

But what could possibly be a dark use of the Dignity Index if we are indexed to “appreciate dignity and challenge contempt”?

So much depends on the eye, ear, and integrity of a beholder. Who decides what offends dignity? What decides what manifests contempt? Who sets out the rankings and consequences?

Does the Dignity Index have any shades of a SICO⁶ (rhymes with FICO) system of control? — a Socially Indexed Credit Obedient or a Socially Indexed Credit Offender system? — a system of increasing strangulation manifesting more and more with each passing day?

And where would Christ rank on the Dignity Index from Mathew’s account (a portion of which is given here)?

13 ¶ But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? (New Testament | Matthew 23:13 – 17)

For a visual example of this event, see The Chosen, Season 5, Episode 3 circa minutes 30:00 – 40:00. For additional text examples, see here.⁷

And what of John the Baptist or most any of the old lamenting prophets?

7 ¶ But when [John] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: (New Testament | Matthew 3:7-8)

How soon might every call to repentance be deemed speech of contempt and offensive to dignity?

Yes, we are to view and treat all people “as born free and equal in dignity and rights,” but how far does dignity extend beyond the person if actions and philosophies corrupt truth and justice? Do we not know that social dignity / acceptance is the aspiration of the Aleister Crowley-“Do-what-thou-wilt” crowd⁸; of the NAMbLA⁹ advocacy group; of pederasts grooming boys and girls; of drag-queens entertaining children; of trans-activists in women's spaces; of trans-athletes in women's sports; of self-obsessed divas / divos pursuing gain and fame; etc., etc.  Considering the natural man¹⁰ and all the déjà vu corruptions and contortions of this world, can we not foresee the future indexing of large portions of scripture, literature, speech, opinion, protest, and exposé as contemptible and subject to censure or punishment?

Let us monitor with a keen eye where this Dignity Index is headed. Let us not allow the good intended to be weaponized against freedoms, rights, truth, and justice.

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*  A current definition: "Dignity is the right of a person to be valued and respected for their own sake, and to be treated ethically. In this context, it is of significance in morality, ethics, law and politics as an extension of the Enlightenment-era concepts of inherent, inalienable rights. The term may also be used to describe personal conduct, as in "behaving with dignity". The content of contemporary dignity is derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, summarized in the principle that every human being has the right to human dignity. In Article 1, it is stipulated that 'All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.[1]" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dignity#:~:text=Dignity%20is%20the%20right%20of,concepts%20of%20inherent%2C%20inalienable%20rights.

1. https://www.dignity.us/index
"Ease Divisions.
"Prevent Violence.
"Solve Problems.
"We formed UNITE in 2018 to find ways to help ease divisions in the country. In 2021, we began developing the Dignity Index, an eight-point scale for measuring how we talk to each other when we disagree. Our faith in the Index is grounded in a few core beliefs: 
"Contempt causes division; dignity eases division.
If we put a spotlight on dignity and contempt, we will use more dignity and less contempt.
If we show Americans how they can help ease our divisions, they will jump on it.
In October 2022, we publicly introduced the Index in Utah during the mid-term elections, scoring political speeches on a weekly basis.  The Index was seen as reliable, fair, and intuitive. Voters from opposite ends of the spectrum were able to agree on scores, and the media covered the Index eagerly on TV, newspapers, and radio. In the Utah project and the response since then, we’ve identified three findings that give us confidence the Index can make a national impact: "
https://www.dignity.us/about#our-team
https://www.dignity.us/
https://www.timothyshriver.com/projects/the-dignity-index
https://gardner.utah.edu/the-dignity-index/
https://emotionalcompetency.com/hdi/index.htm
2. "Take the Dignity Pledge
"As an American who knows and loves my country, I am convinced there is no America without democracy, no democracy without healthy debate, and no healthy debate without dignity; therefore, I pledge to do more to treat others with dignity, not contempt."
https://www.dignity.us/summit
2a: "Your Invitation from Tim Shriver, co-creator of The Dignity Index On behalf of the Dignity Index, I invite you to be a part of our inaugural summit. We’re building a new culture based on honoring each person’s dignity — each person’s inherent worth. We welcome you to join our movement. Our summit is a unique opportunity to connect as a community and accelerate the work of honoring each other’s dignity, easing divisions, preventing violence, and solving problems."
3. https://www.dignity.us/index
4. https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2025/08/two-baskets-of-figs.html
5. https://www.dignity.us/about#our-team
6. https://dejavu-times.blogspot.com/2021/01/when-fico-becomes-sico.html
https://dejavu-times.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-china-syndrome.html
https://dejavu-times.blogspot.com/2022/11/campaign-sico.html
7. https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2022/03/speaking-truth-to-power-new-testament.html
https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2016/01/part-two-evil-speaking-discernment.html
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleister_Crowley
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Man/Boy_Love_Association
10. https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2010/05/natural-man.html