Through a Child’s Eyes ?

(Source at footnote 2)

In several places the Lord’s servants warn us about the traditions of the fathers [and mothers] and how such traditions have handicapped the children.¹ So, as we wind-down this Christmas season, perhaps we should reflect on some of our own traditions and unexamined beliefs.

Let’s take a recent example. During this season, a picture of a wide-eyed baby was profiled on the cover of a ward bulletin with the words: “We miss something if we don’t see Christmas through a child’s eyes.”²

As usual my perpetually questioning mind³ immediately challenged those words as my memory flashed back to decades of witnessing the grip of Babylon on religious observance⁴ and children’s expectations.

Are we too prone to spout platitudes? too quick to say, “Isn’t that precious,” without ever “proving the words”?^[3] Have we fallen into the trap of idealizing things that are not ideal?

WHAT does a child see at Christmas? What do we introduce infants to before they can even process meaning? How much pretense do we stage as we tack brief “Nativities” onto “sugar-plum” programs? Or troop children through reenactments after we have primed their minds to be anxiously engaged with the “promised appearance of Santa”?

WHO becomes more central for most children—the most important person to ever live OR a fictional Santa who never will live, though we swear to the children that he does? We tell fantastic tales—that this red-attired, “gift-giver” flies with a sleigh and reindeer; that his corpulence pristinely descends and ascends through narrow chimneys, and on-and-on. Do we really think such fabrications are harmless? Do we imagine that false symbols, faux parallels, and commercialized substitutes have no consequence?

What have we acculturated children to focus on and expect? a Santa who gives them stuff—endless, fashionable, hot-item, market-tested stuff—manufactured and mass-marketed by the profiteers of Babylon? And in the hours and days that follow “Santa’s delivery,” how many times do we hear the children query each other with that inevitable, comparative, déjà vu question: “What did you get?”?

So what is this pictured infant seeing? What is that unknown image in those wide eyes? Is this child’s first Christmas encounter one of confused wonder at the wonders of a commercialized world?⁵ And in the years thereafter, do we set them up for the prolonged focus and wonder of  “What am I going to get?”

Our Christmas culture reminds me of a 10-year old boy’s comment about our Easter culture. “I really like Easter,” he said. “The candy part; not all the religious stuff.”⁶ If he and most other children were equally frank about Christmas, they might confess: “I really like Christmas—all the gifts and candy parts; not all that religious stuff.”

Yes, we are counseled:⁷

Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 9:22);

and to be

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 (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 3:19);

but there is a vast difference between these aspects of a child’s nature and the “me-mine” traits that we nurture at Christmas and that the Apostle Paul put away:

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things  (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 13:11).

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (New Testament | Ephesians 4:14).

Now to a final few questions: When we read criticisms of our traditions, do we become reflexively angry or do we open ourselves to reflection? to pondering possible truths and consequences? to considering how we might become the peculiar people that God desires? to changing our ways to reflect more of His ways? to rejecting incorrect traditions that distract and deflect us from the true light and life of the world?

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1. Book of Mormon | Mosiah 1:5 ~ I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct.
Book of Mormon | Alma 3:8 ~ And this was done that their seed might be distinguished from the seed of their brethren, that thereby the Lord God might preserve his people, that they might not mix and believe in incorrect traditions which would prove their destruction.
Book of Mormon | Alma 9:16-17 ~ For there are many promises which are extended to the Lamanites; for it is because of the traditions of their fathers that caused them to remain in their state of ignorance; therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them and prolong their existence in the land. And at some period of time they will be brought to believe in his word, and to know of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers; and many of them will be saved, for the Lord will be merciful unto all who call on his name.
Book of Mormon | Alma 17:9, 15 ~ And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct. … Thus they were a very indolent people, many of whom did worship idols, and the curse of God had fallen upon them because of the traditions of their fathers; notwithstanding the promises of the Lord were extended unto them on the conditions of repentance.
Book of Mormon | Alma 19:14 ~ Now Ammon seeing the Spirit of the Lord poured out according to his prayers upon the Lamanites, his brethren, who had been the cause of so much mourning among the Nephites, or among all the people of God because of their iniquities and their traditions, he fell upon his knees, and began to pour out his soul in prayer and thanksgiving to God for what he had done for his brethren; and he was also overpowered with joy; and thus they all three had sunk to the earth.
Book of Mormon | Alma 21:17 ~ And it came to pass that the Lord began to bless them, insomuch that they brought many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, they did convince many of their sins, and of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.
Book of Mormon | Alma 23:3 ~ And thus they might go forth and preach the word according to their desires, for the king had been converted unto the Lord, and all his household; therefore he sent his proclamation throughout the land unto his people, that the word of God might have no obstruction, but that it might go forth throughout all the land, that his people might be convinced concerning the wicked traditions of their fathers, and that they might be convinced that they were all brethren, and that they ought not to murder, nor to plunder, nor to steal, nor to commit adultery, nor to commit any manner of wickedness.
Book of Mormon | Alma 24:7 ~ Now, these are the words which he said unto the people concerning the matter: I thank my God, my beloved people, that our great God has in goodness sent these our brethren, the Nephites, unto us to preach unto us, and to convince us of the traditions of our wicked fathers.
Book of Mormon | Alma 25:6 ~ For many of them, after having suffered much loss and so many afflictions, began to be stirred up in remembrance of the words which Aaron and his brethren had preached to them in their land; therefore they began to disbelieve the traditions of their fathers, and to believe in the Lord, and that he gave great power unto the Nephites; and thus there were many of them converted in the wilderness.
Book of Mormon | Alma 26:24 ~ For they said unto us: Do ye suppose that ye can bring the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth? Do ye suppose that ye can convince the Lamanites of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers, as stiffnecked a people as they are; whose hearts delight in the shedding of blood; whose days have been spent in the grossest iniquity; whose ways have been the ways of a transgressor from the beginning? Now my brethren, ye remember that this was their language.
Book of Mormon | Alma 47:36 ~ Now these dissenters, having the same instruction and the same information of the Nephites, yea, having been instructed in the same knowledge of the Lord, nevertheless, it is strange to relate, not long after their dissensions they became more hardened and impenitent, and more wild, wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites—drinking in with the traditions of the Lamanites; giving way to indolence, and all manner of lasciviousness; yea, entirely forgetting the Lord their God.
Book of Mormon | Helaman 15:7-8 ~ And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of yourselves are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made free.
Book of Mormon | Helaman 15:15 ~ For behold, had the mighty works been shown unto them which have been shown unto you, yea, unto them who have dwindled in unbelief because of the traditions of their fathers, ye can see of yourselves that they never would again have dwindled in unbelief.
2. “Christmas through a child’s eye”s: LDS Media Library: https://www.lds.org/media-library/images/wixom-quote-christmas-1187968?lang=eng&category=
3. New Testament | 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ~ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
4. Particularly the excessive, obsessive collection (to the tune of thousands of dollars) of Christmas décor, especially the display (and storing) of hundreds of “unique” nativities—from miniature mice to Disney characters and everything in between and beyond.
5. New Testament | John 8:12 ~ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Book of Mormon | Mosiah 16:9 ~ He [Christ] is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.
Book of Mormon | Alma 28:14 ~ And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life.
Book of Mormon | Alma 38:9 ~ And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness.
Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 9:18 ~ I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 11:11 ~ And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 11:28 ~ Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the life and the light of the world.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 34:1-3 ~ … behold what I, the Lord God, shall say unto you, even Jesus Christ your Redeemer; The light and the life of the world, a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not; Who so loved the world that he gave his own life, that as many as would believe might become the sons of God. …
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 93:8-9 ~ Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the Word, even the messenger of salvation— The light and the Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth, who came into the world, because the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the light of men.
6. http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2013/03/blissfully-ignorant-ii.html
7. New Testament | Matthew 18:2-4 ~ And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
New Testament | Mark 10:14-15 ~ Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
New Testament | Luke 18:16-17 ~ But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 11:37-41 ~ And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things. And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them. Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth. [All bold emphasis added.]

Could It Also Be?

Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805-1844)
(for source info. see footnote 7)

(More questions¹ for the questioners of Joseph Smith’s legacy and the direction of things after his martyrdom. To better understand this post, please read the post: “Could It Be?” of December 15, 2015.)

Since God knows:

» the continual contest between flesh and spirit;
» the cunning psychopathy and agenda of Lucifer;
» the susceptibility of every soul to distractions, deceptions, sin, and self-will;
» that Christ has paid the price for all if they would repent;

then, could it also be:

▪ that God’s redemptive work—revealed in greater fullness through Joseph Smith—continues with every seeking soul and leader in every splinter group of “Mormonism” AND within every nation, kindred, tongue, [religion,] and people?

▪ that in the days following the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, God continued to work His redemptive plan, as He saw fit, with both those who adopted latter-day polygamy and those who denounced it?

▪ that God gives opportunity upon opportunity for every soul who has erred to turn their life over or back to His will and ways?

▪ that even deceived persons can, at times, receive God-inspired dreams, visions, guidance and even wisdom, in order to bless people who are under their stewardship or influence, while God works to correct, humble, and refine everyone? Example:

AND the Lord was not pleased with Solomon for he made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter to wife , and brought her into the house of David until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about. And the Lord blessed Solomon for the people’s sake only  (Old Testament | 1 Kings 3:1 JST; bold emphasis added).

▪ that leaders (like everyone else) are susceptible to deceptions in practice and doctrine, so God counsels us to “trust not in the arm of flesh,”² but to always exercise discernment and “to prove all things and hold fast to that which is good”?³

▪ that God uses all kinds of circumstances and human failings (in both laity and leaders) to tutor His children in the ways of discernment and of the Holy Spirit?

▪ that God (as exemplified by Captain Mormon,⁴ and many others) loves and teaches all His children, even in the midst of their sins (even iniquity) right up until the point of no-return?

▪ that any person who seeks with real intent to know of and accept the work that Christ did through Joseph Smith can experience the confirming witness of the Holy Spirit?

▪ that every soul who comes unto Christ through the work and ministry of Joseph Smith is receiving more of what God has to offer in these last days?⁵ 

For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 28:30) 

▪ that God’s voice and witness concerning the integrity of His servant, Joseph Smith is to be received and believed above every contrary voice or “witness”?

▪ that God’s purposes may be mysterious to mortal man, but they fail not?⁶

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1. See the Déjà Vu Times II post of December 15, 2015, “Could It Be?” at http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2015/12/could-it-be.html
2. Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 4:34 ~ O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 28:31 ~ Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 1:19 ~ The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh—
3. New Testament | 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ~ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
4. Book of Mormon | Moroni 9:3-6 ~ And now behold, my son, I fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people; for they do not repent, and Satan stirreth them up continually to anger one with another. Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them. For so exceedingly do they anger that it seemeth me that they have no fear of death; and they have lost their love, one towards another; and they thirst after blood and revenge continually. And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God. (See also Book of Mormon | Mormon chapters 3 and 5)
5. Book of Mormon | Alma 12:9-11 ~ And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him. And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full. And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries;
Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 26:8-10 ~ And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken. And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them. And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation.
New Testament | Matthew 13:10-12 ~ And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
6. Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:1-4 ~ HEAR, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior. Great is his wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out. His purposes fail not, neither are there any who can stay his hand. From eternity to eternity he is the same, and his years never fail.
Old Testament | Lamentations 3:22 ~ It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
[Bold emphasis added in footnoted scriptures.]
7. Image Source: Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805-1844), head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front. Charles William Carter - Library of Congress ~ circa 1885 (reproduction of painting) at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith,_Jr.#/media/File:Ovalportrait-josephsmith-Carter.jpg | This is a faithful photographic reproduction of a two-dimensional, public domain work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain for the following reason: This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or less.

Could It Be?

(Questions for the questioners of Joseph Smith’s legacy.)

*

Having encountered several references to John Cook Bennett¹ in recent studies of Mormon history, I wonder if it might be fruitful² to review the characteristics of a sociopath/psychopath.

From the BBC documentary, Psychopath:³

▪ “There are few more emotive words in the English language than psychopath—a clinical word for a condition that has only recently begun to be properly defined.”
▪ “[There are] tens of thousands of other people out there who are psychopaths but are not serial killers.”
▪ “And by far the vast majority are neither criminal nor in prison. But the kind of harm that psychopaths can cause at home and in the workplace is deeply damaging and costly in every sense.”
▪ “There is something missing. [The psychopath] has no compunctions.”
▪ “They are dangerous, without a conscience, and all around us.”
▪ “In the workplace, they often disrupt and destroy the good working of the business or an operation …”
▪ “[They are] “Public Enemy #1.”

In fact, most sociopaths/psychopaths (hereafter just called sociopath) inflict their harm and chaos in hidden, subtle ways⁴ through:

◦ pathological lying;
◦ cunning, conning, and manipulation;
◦ charm, sincerity, earnestness (when it suits their purpose);
◦ remorseless, callous behaviors;
◦ seeding contention and confusion;
◦ denial, maligning, blaming others, refusing responsibility;
◦ living without conscience; without empathy.

Granted, many people think the whole, initial “Mormon” bunch were all villains, but what if these many cynics and critics are just blindly fulfilling prophecy concerning a divinely-called Joseph Smith:

He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people  (Pearl of Great Price | JS-History 1:33, emphasis added).

Since evil-speaking of Joseph Smith is so rampant in this internet age, we can perhaps “thank” Mr. Cook Bennett, in large measure, for “cooking the polygamy books,” so to speak.

So how might a “saintly scoundrel,”⁵ like Cook Bennett stir the pot to provoke evil-speaking for generations while furthering his own fantasies of grandeur and seduction?

If he followed the path of the sociopath, he would:

▪  curry favor with perceived power;
▪  jockey for position and trust;
▪  play people one off against the other;
▪  claim inside knowledge and favor with the “elites”;
▪  fabricate, without conscience, to advance his own passions and agendas;
▪  solicit oaths of secrecy when revealing his “knowledge” (i.e., fabrications) to others, especially those perceived as subordinates or victims;
▪  claim to speak for or reveal “secrets” about leader(s);
▪  cook up devious, contorted schemes to entrap, confuse, and compromise others;
▪  solicit others to admire him, front for him, or do his “dirty” work;
▪  claim his own questionable conduct is sanctioned—even ordained—by the leader(s);
▪  be addicted to the drama and adrenalin of his power-plays;
▪  lose track of what is true and what is fabricated;
▪  frequently invoke the “pity ploy”⁶;
▪  when confronted, deny everything or accuse or blame others for “mistakes” or slip-ups (for as long as possible);
▪  display excessive, “distressed” remorse and repentance (and plead for mercy and secrecy), if caught in undeniable lies;
▪  immediately revert to fabrications and seductions with increased care, secrecy, and pity-ploys;
▪  take offense easily;
▪  fantasize and foment reprisal;
▪  fantasize about replacing the “leader.”

So, in light of the above, conjoined with Bennett’s long trail of iniquity and mendacity, does it not occur to historians and others:

▪ that the word or witness of John Cook Bennett is utterly bankrupt?
▪ that every other word or witness that has root in his poison is equally bankrupt?
▪ that the enemy of all righteousness is more than adept at convincing (limitless) self-serving or compromised “witnesses” that they are doing God a favor when torquing or hiding truth for the sake of (their vision of) the “kingdom”?
▪ that loyalty, dogma, fear, expectation, repetitive lies, and so forth can warp memory and morals?
▪ that Joseph, in all his sermons and writings, unequivocally sustained monogamous marriage and denounced polygamy in the latter-day church (as did his brother, Hyrum)?⁷
▪ that trust and truth reside in God and His prophetic word—not in the “recall” of natural-men or -women⁸—especially ones who have been seduced?

So, could it be:

▪ that the adversary knew “that God had a work for [Joseph] to do” and trotted out his most effective historical, distracting weapon—multiple wives and concubines—and combined that weapon with a far-reaching conspiracy, intent on destroying God’s work and the veracity of His servant Joseph?
▪ that many in the early church (even high officials or former officials) were persuaded, by an avalanche of fabrication, intrigue, (and temptation) to believe the words of a self-willed, self-serving, charming Bennett (aided by his converts and Cochranite⁹ believers)—to place “new doctrine” above the word of God and God’s beleaguered seer? (Oh, déjà vu from ancient days.)
▪ that there were secret, proxy “sealings” to Joseph¹⁰ without his knowledge or presence so others could assert his complicity and sanction; and thus justify their own  “spiritual wifery”?
▪ that covenants of secrecy barred participants from revealing details of “sealings”—with the added caution to not even expect Joseph’s acknowledgement of his “wives”—because of: 1) the need to keep such “special doctrine” hidden from less-chosen ones; 2) the alleged jealous, hostile Emma (Joseph’s wife); and 3) whatever other reason served the conspirators’ purposes?
▪ that when Joseph of Egypt said that a future Joseph would be “like unto me” (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 3:15) , he was also meaning that the future Joseph would likewise be falsely accused?
▪ that 173 years after Bennett’s exposure and excommunication, we are still ingesting the poison and fall-out of his fabrications?
▪ that God’s “lemonade”¹¹ for Bennett’s presence in Nauvoo proved three-fold: 1) to test the “saints”; 2) to give Bennett one more opportunity (in the company of many good people and principles) to turn his life back to the will and ways of God; and 3) to give the “latter-day world” a choice in prophetic fulfillment?

So, what is the choice we have made concerning Joseph?

THE ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee; While the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand. And thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors. And although their influence shall cast thee into trouble, and into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in honor; and but for a small moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thine enemies than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever. If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea; If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; … and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb; … and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 122:1-9, bold emphasis added).

What if, at the judgment, we latter-day gentiles and other children of promise get a preliminary, defining question:

Did you speak good of my servant Joseph or did you speak evil?¹²

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CAUTION: to those who flippantly class Joseph amongst the likes of Bennett, perhaps it would be wise to repent and undertake an intensive study of Joseph’s life, his writings, and God's work through and prophecies about him—before it is too late. (In other words, seek to avoid the perennial déjà vus of the natural man of footnote 8—who believing himself to be informed and learned, believes himself also to be wise. See Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:28. A caution for us all.)
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Bennett ; also
http://www.mormonwiki.com/John_C._Bennett ; also
Chapter 7 “Dr. Bennett Laid the Foundation of Polygamy at Nauvoo” from Joseph Smith Fought Polygamy, Vol. 1 at http://restorationbookstore.org/articles/nopoligamy/jsfp-vol1/chp7.htm
2. New Testament | Matthew 7:20 ~ Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
3. BBC documentary, Psychopath at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LE-UlvzmoM
4. Some of this list comes from Prof. Robert Hare’s Checklist and some from other observations. Hare’s Checklist for the full psychopathy spectrum can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy_Checklist .
See also prior Déjà Vu posts concerning this subject at
http://www.dejavu-times.blogspot.ca/2014/10/public-enemy-1.html
http://www.dejavu-times.blogspot.ca/2014/05/a-plague-of-psychopaths.html
http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2014/12/without-conscience.html
5. The Saintly Scoundrel: The Life and Times of Dr. John Cook Bennett by Andrew F. Smith (1997).
See also the many chapters dealing with Bennett in Joseph Smith Fought Polygamy, Vols. 1 & 2 at http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm
6. The Pity Ploy at http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2014/12/the-pity-ploy.html
7. Marriage doctrine preached during Joseph’s life: Review; Chapter 6: “Early Efforts to Eradicate Polygamy”; Chapter 19: “Joseph's Sermon against Polygamy” in Joseph Smith Fought Polygamy, Vol. 1 and Chapter 15, Subhead: “A Review of Some of the Important Documents Published against Polygamy in 1842” found in Joseph Smith Fought Polygamy, Vol. 2; both volumes available through the books’ index at http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm
8. 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 - 22 ~ 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. Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.
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. (Bold emphasis added,)
9.   A polygamous sect that early Mormon missionaries encountered in the 1830s.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Cochran and also Joseph Smith Fought Polygamy Vol. 1 chapters 1-4 and Joseph Smith Fought Polygamy Vol. 2, chapters 8-11 at http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm
10. Proxy Sealings: from Chapter 14 “William Smith Provided Further Insights into the Origin of Polygamy” from the book Joseph Smith Fought Polygamy, Vol. 2 at http://restorationbookstore.org/articles/nopoligamy/jsfp-vol2/2chp14.htm

SAN BERNARDINO, California,
December 31st, 1883.
Mrs. Mary Ralph being duly sworn, deposes and says: I lived in Nauvoo, Illinois, close to the house of Joseph Smith, just across the road, sometime. ... and I believe he was a true prophet of God. I was well acquainted with the two Partridge girls and the two Walker girls and their two brothers William and Lorin Walker, they were orphans, and all lived in the family of Joseph Smith, but I never knew they were any of them his wives; but I saw Susy Walker in 1847 and she had a young baby in her arms, she told me she had been sealed to Joseph for eternity and to Heber C. Kimball for time, and Bro. Heber was acting proxy for Bro. Joseph. Dianthy [Diantha] Farr, daughter of Aaron Farr, told me she was sealed in the same way and W[m]. Clayton was acting proxy for Bro. Joseph with her. The first I ever heard of the proxy and sealing business was in 1846. Bathsheba Smith, wife of Geo. A., told me of it then.
MARY RALPH.
Sworn to before me this 31st day of December, 1883, W. J. Curtis, Notary Public in and for San Bernardino county, state of California. (Bold emphasis added.)

11. "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" is a proverbial phrase used to encourage optimism and a positive can-do attitude in the face of adversity or misfortune. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/.../When_life_gives_you_lemons,_make_lemonade)
12. Though the following sites may prove offensive to many Mormons and their traditional beliefs, they may also prove thought-provoking and enlightening:
Joseph Smith Fought Polygamy at http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm
In Defense of Joseph at http://www.defendingjoseph.com/ (several posts 2008 to 2015)
Joseph Smith’s Monogamy: Exploring a Counter-narrative Regarding Plural Marriage at https://www.scribd.com/doc/290575587/JosephSmithsMonogamy-pdf

(* Wolf in sheep’s clothing image / license source: Bing.com ~ Free to use ...)

Anatomy of Disaffection

(An escalating, global epidemic?)

Disaffection
noun
~ a state of dissatisfaction or alienation ~ the growing disaffection between players
Source: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/disaffection

Some patterns seem so repetitive—so easy to initiate by the enemy of all that is good. One such pattern is the four-step path of relationship breakdown (as discussed in the previous post¹). In recent years, it seems that relationship breakdown has exploded on a global scale. The adversary appears almost in panic mode with the shortness of time left to him.² So behold, the abbreviated micro- / macro-pattern of relationship breakdown between nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples:

First come feelings and/or thoughts, like:

disagreement, dissatisfaction, discontent, resentment, antagonism, alienation, dislike, unfriendliness, hostility, aversion, antipathy, estrangement, ill will, animosity, repugnance.

As the feelings and thoughts remain unchecked and undisciplined, they expand and deepen until
2) they begin to manifest in words of derision and demand.
As the words expand and deepen, they reinforce the feelings and thoughts until
3) the motives, agendas, morals, and worth of the other are questioned and condemned.
As this third phase expands and deepens, the whole cycle is reinforced until
4) the relationship is abandoned (sometimes in favor of new associations), though all too often, the disaffected relationship becomes the focus of an angry, destructive obsession.

So the question is: Do we ever monitor (are we even aware of) where we are in the recycling disaffections of our lives?—disaffections with people/s? institutions? governments? circumstances? God?

It is so easy to begin the process of disaffection—with just a single, small thought or feeling. Is that why Jesus said:

Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, and it is also written before you, that thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of God; But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 12:21-22)?

Is that why some scribe added the phrase, “without a cause,” to the New Testament version³ because anger and disaffection are so common—so easily justifiable—so in sync with the will and ways of the “Natural Man”?⁴

Is that why Jesus told Peter:

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven (New Testament | Matthew 18:21-22)?

Yet, even in the face of these words, we must ask: Is disaffection ever justified?

And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. (Old Testament | Numbers 16:25-26)

But can this really be called disaffection in light of Jesus’ other words?

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (New Testament | Matthew 5:43-48)

I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. And ye ought to say in your hearts—let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 64:10-11)

So perhaps disaffection and most of its synonyms are not justified even when the will of God is that we move on or away from a place of oppression, corruption, or iniquity.

What did God expect of those called to move on—those like Abraham, Moses, Lehi, Nephi, Mosiah, Alma the elder, Mahonri & Jared, Mulek, and so forth?⁵ For the most part, it seems they were called to bear their witness without rancor or hostility and  then let God take care of the consequences of choice in His own time and way. They were not to dwell or labor in disaffection. They were to live, love, and forgive according to the mind and will of God.

Yet, no matter where we are in the world today, we increasingly hear words (from atheists to ministers, from politicians to Zionists, and everywhere in-between) promoting disaffection—against and amongst Christians, Muslims, Arabs, Jews, immigrants, refugees, nations, leaders, police, opponents, the poor, and on and on.

And so we begin to fear—to become angry, suspicious, paranoid, even violent—the perfect set-up to escalate more disaffection and chaos (the hidden agenda) in furtherance of  a “new order.”

But why should we fear? If we have clean hands and a pure heart—if we live in Christ and He in us—there is NOTHING to fear—especially not death. Why can we not take example from the trusting reply to a King’s arrogant challenge of “who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up (Old Testament | Daniel 3:15-18, bold emphasis added).

Please, let us remember:

▪  we are all brothers and sisters—children of a supreme and sovereign God;
▪  we all sin and desperately need daily repentance;
▪  God alone knows “degrees of difficulty” and degrees of accountability;
▪  the degrees of manipulation, mind-control, and deception inspired by Lucifer are almost beyond comprehension, so how can we be sure we know the truth of a matter if we are not in tune with the mind of God;
▪  the greatest degree of manipulation, mind-control, and deception is being perpetuated upon those who think they are the manipulators and controllers;
▪  because of pervasive wickedness in the world,⁶ Jesus counseled, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (New Testament | Matthew 10:16);
▪  the individual permutations of God’s mercy, justice and judgment are, and will be, perfect;
▪  generalized disaffections are unwise and unjust because God has a remnant within every nation, kindred, tongue, and people who stand for truth and righteousness;

In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance (Old Testament | Isaiah 19:23-25; bold emphasis added).

Let us not be drawn into disaffections. Let us live the compassion that Jesus preached, whatever the perceived cost. Only God knows the truth of every heart. And only in Him will we have the strength to endure the disaffections of others.

--------------------------------/
1. “Prologue to Divorce” at http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2015/11/prologue-to-divorce.html which reviews the steps outlined by Russell M. Stendal in Appendix 4, entitled, “The Fatal Tailspin,” from his book Rescue the Captors: Written from within a Marxist guerrilla camp in Colombia, the true story of a kidnapped jungle pilot Life Sentence Publishing. Kindle Edition (2011-04-21). I thank Stendal for sparking my further reflections and thoughts.
2. New Testament | Revelation 12:12 ~ Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
3. New Testament | Matthew 5:21-22 ~ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire; (underline emphasis added).
4. 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.
5. Abraham ~ Pearl of Great Price | Abraham 2:6 ~ But I, Abraham, and Lot, my brother's son, prayed unto the Lord, and the Lord appeared unto me, and said unto me: Arise, and take Lot with thee; for I have purposed to take thee away out of Haran, and to make of thee a minister to bear my name in a strange land which I will give unto thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession, when they hearken to my voice.
Moses ~ Old Testament | Exodus and Deuteronomy 1:19 ~ And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us;
Lehi₁ ~ Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 1 and 1 Nephi 2:2 ~ And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.
Nephi₁ ~ Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 5:1-2, 5 ~ BEHOLD, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cry much unto the Lord my God, because of the anger of my brethren. But behold, their anger did increase against me, insomuch that they did seek to take away my life. … And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me.
Mosiah₁ ~ Book of Mormon | Omni 1:12 ~ Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla; for behold, he being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness—
King Limhi ~ Book of Mormon | Mosiah 22:2 ~ And it came to pass that they could find no way to deliver themselves out of bondage, except it were to take their women and children, and their flocks, and their herds, and their tents, and depart into the wilderness; for the Lamanites being so numerous, it was impossible for the people of Limhi to contend with them, thinking to deliver themselves out of bondage by the sword.
Alma₁~ Book of Mormon | Mosiah 23:1 ~ NOW Alma, having been warned of the Lord that the armies of king Noah₂ would come upon them, and having made it known to his people, therefore they gathered together their flocks, and took of their grain, and departed into the wilderness before the armies of king Noah.
Mahonri & Jared ~ Book of Mormon | Ether 1 and Book of Mormon | Ether 2:5-7 ~ And it came to pass that the Lord commanded them that they should go forth into the wilderness, yea, into that quarter where there never had man been. And it came to pass that the Lord did go before them, and did talk with them as he stood in a cloud, and gave directions whither they should travel. And it came to pass that they did travel in the wilderness, and did build barges, in which they did cross many waters, being directed continually by the hand of the Lord. And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people.
Mulek ~ Book of Mormon | Mosiah 25:2 ~ Now there were not so many of the children of Nephi, or so many of those who were descendants of Nephi, as there were of the people of Zarahemla, who was a descendant of Mulek, and those who came with him into the wilderness. Book of Mormon | Helaman 6:10 ~ Now the land south was called Lehi and the land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north, and Lehi into the land south. Book of Mormon | Helaman 8:21- 22 ~ And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem? But behold, this is not all— Our father Lehi was driven out of Jerusalem because he testified of these things. Nephi also testified of these things, and also almost all of our fathers, even down to this time; yea, they have testified of the coming of Christ, and have looked forward, and have rejoiced in his day which is to come.
6. New Testament | Matthew 10:17-22 ~ But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Prologue to Divorce

Interesting how information often comes in clusters. Ten days ago I posted “Sins & Secrets”¹ after encountering, without intention, several bits of information that moved my thoughts in that direction. In studying those bits of information, a pattern characteristic of marital infidelity revealed itself. Then yesterday, a more concise pattern was unexpectedly encountered in a memoir, entitled, Rescue the Captors: Written from within a Marxist guerrilla camp in Colombia, the true story of a kidnapped jungle pilot. The author, Russell M. Stendal, added several appendices to his memoir and in the fourth one entitled, “The Fatal Tailspin,” he wrote:²

Jesus describes three steps to the break-up of a personal relationship. First, anger is allowed to build in our mind against our brother (or [spouse]). Second, our bottled up angry thoughts spill out as words of insult to the other person’s intelligence. … Finally, the inner motives of the other person are questioned and condemned. This causes heart to heart communication with the other person to abruptly cease  (p. xxxviii, bold emphasis added).

If there is an unresolved, unreconciled problem in a home, similar to the one that Jesus has been describing here in Matt. 5: 27–30 and if we are on the outs with our spouse even temporarily, it opens us up to a very dangerous temptation. As we walk down the street, all the other members of the opposite sex that we see take on added attraction. The thought occurs to us: “Hey, why didn’t I marry one of these beautiful people instead of the ‘old grouch’ that I left back at home.” As the mental fantasies build in our mind, our eyes start roaming onto any opportune target that presents itself. Sooner or later chance presents us with the possibility of actually living out one of our fantasies. The transition from mental adultery to physical adultery is surprisingly smooth provided that the relationship with the original spouse remains interrupted  (p. xlii, bold emphasis added).

The point that I believe Jesus wants to make is that seemingly innocent little impure thoughts wreak tremendous havoc on our lives and cause us permanent loss. If we allow impure thoughts such as anger, malice, unforgiveness, or impure sexual fantasies a place in our minds, they are seeds that we will be unable to prevent from germinating and translating themselves into actions. If this happens we might bear the scars of our folly for all eternity  (p. xliii).

Divorces start out with little, seemingly insignificant details and fester until they are out of control. Even a minor little grudge, if nursed long enough, can develop into a full-fledged divorce. Once adultery has taken place, all it takes is one more minor spat with the spouse, and bags are packed, bridges are burned, and the family destroyed in favor of beginning marriage anew with the “someone else” who is available and waiting (p. xliii). God can forgive and restore us after a divorce, but something is irrevocably lost whenever a marriage is broken  (p. xliv).

In Jesus’ description of the vicious cycle of how personal relationships can be destroyed, starting with a buildup of anger and ending in a divorce, the place that he tells us to watch out for the Evil One is at the very end when the Enemy would like to help us rationalize our problem and pretend that it really wasn’t our fault. If at any stage during the breakup of a personal relationship, we are able to honestly face our share of the blame and come to God with the broken attitude of the “poor in spirit,” throwing ourselves upon his mercy, it is possible to break the vicious circle of evil feeding on itself and replace it with the positive, opposite, upward spiral of mercy and love described by Jesus in his beatitudes. Remember: Good can also feed on itself and get better and better the longer we spend planting seeds of mercy, forgiveness, love, and justice. In the Kingdom of God the sky is, literally, the limit. Unlike evil, which can only corrupt and destroy that which was once wholesome and pure, good is creative and knows no upper bounds. There is no upper limit to what God can do with a human life if we are willing to co-operate with him  (pp. xlv-xlvi, bold emphasis added).

Oh, that we could see the pattern at its beginning; that we could acknowledge faults within ourselves; that we knew and lived the Beatitudes; that we were always willing to co-operate with Him.

And how déjà vu this pattern when we begin to divorce ourselves from God.

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1. http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2015/11/sins-secrets.html
2. Stendal, Russell, Rescue the Captors: Written from within a Marxist guerrilla camp in Colombia, the true story of a kidnapped jungle pilot LIFE SENTENCE Publishing. Kindle Edition. (2011-04-21).
Additional Stendal quotes:
How can such “beautiful people” have such horrible divorces? How do personal relationships fall apart? Jesus says it all starts the minute we begin to harbor a grudge against someone else in our family  (p. xxxvii).
When our conscience begins to make us feel uneasy and insecure, due to a damaged personal relationship in our life, how easy it is to head for church to salve our conscience instead of swallowing our pride and going to see the person we have wronged. Jesus says that he doesn’t want to see us in church, or even receive an offering from us, until we have tried our best to reconcile any broken relationships with those around us. Even if the problem seems to be only 1% our fault and 99% the fault of the other party, we are still required to seek the other person out  (pp. xxxix-xli).
Most patients requiring psychiatric treatment have, at the root of their problem, an unreconciled hatred for someone, coupled with bitterness and unforgiveness  (pp. xli-xlii).

His Precious Blood1

Source: footnote 5

When we look at world history and scripture—at all the déjà vus of sin, selfishness, and sacrilege that characterize the ways of the natural man,² do we ever reflect:

▪  on how much of the natural man we personally, stubbornly cling to?
▪  on how many times Christ is denied every day—even re-crucified through our actions, feelings, and attitudes?
▪  on how every old and latter-day village, town and city might fit the description within New Testament Revelation 11:8: “the great city [town, village] which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified”?³

Do we, by treating the things of Heaven with lightness,⁴ crucify Him unto ourselves?

O FOOLISH Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (New Testament | Galatians 3:1)

For he hath made it impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to be renewed again unto repentance; seeing they crucify unto themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (New Testament | Hebrews 6:4-6 JST)

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. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:35)

Do we ever ask ourselves whether, in our choices and decisions, we “assent unto his death”?

The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be forgiven in the world nor out of the world, is in that ye commit murder wherein ye shed innocent blood, and assent unto my death, after ye have received my new and everlasting covenant, saith the Lord God; and he that abideth not this law can in nowise enter into my glory, but shall be damned, saith the Lord. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 132:27)

BUT, above all the noise of the natural man, can we hear?

Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Old Testament | Isaiah 1:16-18)

--------------------------/
1. New Testament | Ephesians 2:12-13 ~ That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
New Testament | Hebrews 9:14 ~ How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
New Testament | 1 Peter 1:18-20 ~ Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
New Testament | 1 John 1:7 ~ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
New Testament | Revelation 1:5 ~ And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Book of Mormon | Mosiah 3:18 ~ For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
Book of Mormon | Mosiah 4:2 ~ And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.
Book of Mormon | Alma 5:27 ~ Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?
Book of Mormon | Moroni 10:32-33 ~ Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 35:2 ~ I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one.
2. 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.
3. New Testament | Revelation 11:8 ~ And their dead bodies [of the two witnesses] shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
4. Old Testament | Deuteronomy 32:15 ~ But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:52-58 ~ And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me. And by this you may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the whole world groaneth under sin and darkness even now. 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.
*(All bold emphasis has been added above.)
5. From bing.com; titled, "Precious Blood Jesus" from thegoodheart.blogspot.com

Sins & Secrets

If there was ever a pattern of recycling déjà vu it might be in all those cases of infidelity. We do not have to look far to see the repetitious pattern in the famous. Remember Paula Broadwell, Kobe Bryant, Bill Clinton, John Edwards, Newt Gingrich, Jennifer Lopez, David Petraeus, LeAnn Rimes, Meg Ryan, Mark Sanford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eliot Spitzer, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Anthony Weiner, Tiger Woods, et al., al., al.

So what is the pattern? Does it manifest in the not-so-famous—the man or woman next door? Apparently—and by many reports¹—increasingly so. History is full of “infidels.” God’s recurring lament was that His covenant people had gone a whoring (His words) after other gods—had become covenant-breakers.

So here is a short checklist for marital infidels—for covenant-breakers with both God and spouse:

□  Have I checked values and principles at the door of “my feelings”?
□  Do I claim my infidelity is someone (everyone) else’s fault?
□  Have I become cold, angry, cruel or fake with my spouse?
□  Do I lie about or attempt to keep secret my comings and goings and whereabouts?
□  Am I paranoid about someone reading my texts or answering my phone?
□  Do I flare up at any suggestion or suspicion about my behavior?
□  Am I addicted to the drama (and the “fix”) of it all?
□  Do I acquiesce to uncomfortable things so my paramour won’t betray me?
□  Have I let my sins and secrets turn me into a sociopath?²
□  Is my whole life a lie?

If you haven't heretofore recognized the pattern, know this: others have. And know this: The perennial déjà vu is that every infidel will be exposed. If not in this life (though the odds may favor it), it will come at the Judgment when all former pleasures and passions will be as nothing to the pain and anguish of confronting one's own stupidity(?), duplicity(?), pride(?), narcissism(?), myopia(?).

Know this too. All those warning voices of “end-times”; of getting things right with God; of repenting before it is too late; of taking full responsibility for sins and clearing secrets—all these are not pie-in-the-sky. The time we have to get things right is unbelievably short.

Know also: No secret is safe with other sinners; and no secret is safe from omniscience.

For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. (New Testament | Luke 12:2-3)

For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated. And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow; for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 1:2-3)

P.S. “Why is it, that when [we] can supposedly seduce any person in the world into liking [us], [we] still don't like [our]self?” (Quoted from D B.³)

BUT, above all, know this: There is help, healing, and forgiveness when we turn our life back to Him.

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1.  Listen, read, understand how tragic this all is:
◦   http://beyondaffairs.com/suspicion-confrontation/signs-of-infidelity/
◦   http://womensinfidelity.com/adultery_wife.html
◦   http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/podcasts/current_20151112_50275.mp3 - Neil Strauss rethinks his pickup artist past confessing 'The Truth' about relationships - Nov 12, 2015 (2/3)
◦   http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ashley-madison-data-1.3196636
◦   http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/podcasts/spark_20151108_19183.mp3 - Spark #299: Spy-on-your-spouse apps, ...   (begin at minute 32:45)
◦   http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/how-technology-is-lifting-the-covers-on-infidelity-1.1144992
◦   do a google or book search on infidelity, if you need additional witness beyond these articles, mp3s, and the AshleyMadison scandals.
2. http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/search/label/Sociopath
3. Quote from D B post of October 13, 2015 from Customer Reviews for Strauss’s book The Truth: An Uncomfortable Book About Relationships at http://www.amazon.com/Truth-Uncomfortable-Book-About-Relationships-ebook/dp/B00ICN31SA/ref=sr_1_13?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1447866175&sr=1-13&keywords=neil+strauss&pebp=1447866193036&perid=1J00DE8C9WJG7QYMAKN7

In Vain ?

“Come one, come all

for a fee you can be

taught Higher Laws”

Definition: to no avail; fruitlessly
Synonyms: useless, to no avail, unsuccessful, fruitless, wasted, vain, ineffectual, without success, to no purpose, bootless
(Source: http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/in-vain)

To all those who have taken the pilgrimage to be instructed in “higher laws” that (purportedly)  promise wealth and the realization of personal agendas, I refer you to the recent Déjà Vu ~ Time II post entitled, “Priestcraft?”¹ and share these words from Russell M. Stendal²:

If we take our God-given gifts and start using them for our own benefit, we are taking the anointing of God and pouring it over our own heads. We will short circuit the blessing of the Lord and will be guilty of taking the name of the Lord in vain. If we are just trying to stamp the Lord’s name all over the top of our own selfish plans and ambitions (individual or corporate) to dress them up and make them look nice and acceptable, we are taking the Lord’s name in vain. We may not have any literal idols, but if we are spending our time and money on good things that keep us from pursuing God’s best, these things become our idols. God wants to write His laws on the tablets of our hearts. God wants to write the essence of the Ten Commandments that the Jews could not keep on the tablets of our hearts. He wants to change our hearts. He wants to give us His feelings. He wants to motivate us from within to hunger and thirst for His righteousness, so He can fill and satisfy us. He wants to fill us with Himself. When we are full of the Lord and begin to get a little inkling of how God feels about sin, it has a tremendous impact on our behavior (Kindle Locations 876-884).

We cannot take promises that apply to His will and use them for personal gain, any more than a business manager can take the corporate funds and pocket them for whatever He pleases. The Christian church is full of people asking for everything under the sun in Jesus’ name when really it is in their own name (Kindle Locations 872-874).

Remember that the simplest definition of sin according to the Word of God is “going our own way, instead of going God’s way” (Kindle Locations 245-246).

Babylon is a type of the religious humanism that attempts to conduct the church of God according to the ways of the world, the world that according to the Scriptures is at enmity with God (James 4:4) (Kindle Locations 96-97).

Religious persons and organizations are doing their own things in the name of God, expecting God to bless them, and He won’t. He can’t  (Kindle Locations 84-85).

How much sad experience must we endure before we come to accept that there is a God-ordained Plan³ for our life and our churches and it is not to pursue the things and agendas of this world? How many times will we let ourselves be deceived by those pursuing power and gain? How long are we going to claim we are God’s good people when most of our time and efforts are focused on pursuing status and comfort in this world?

Stendal writes:

Those who truly surrender to God and submit to the authority of Christ will grieve at the status of the world around them (Kindle Locations 491-492).

His words are so déjà vu Ezekiel:

And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side; 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. (Old Testament | Ezekiel 9:3-4)

How many times must we hear and read this before we truly self-reflect?

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (New Testament | Matthew 7:21-23; bold emphasis added).

Please, please, let us open ourselves to the real purpose of Higher Laws.

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1. http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2015/09/priestcraft.html
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 63:58, 61-62 ~ For this is a day of warning, and not a day of many words. For I, the Lord, am not to be mocked in the last days. … Wherefore, let all men beware how they take my name in their lips— For behold, verily I say, that many there be who are under this condemnation, who use the name of the Lord, and use it in vain, having not authority.
2. Stendal, Russell M., God’s Plan for Spiritual Battle: Victory over Sin, the World, and the Devil (Free eBook Sampler). LIFE SENTENCE Publishing. Kindle Edition (2014-11-27). “Russell Stendal was … raised on the mission field in Colombia, South America. He … heads up the work of Colombia Para Cristo which operates 12 radio stations involving more than 100 staff and coworkers and covering much of Latin America with the Gospel.” … Connect with the Stendal Ministry Website www.cpcsociety.ca  (Kindle Locations 1054-1067). Find additional biographical information at the website.
3. http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2015/03/the-plan.html ; see also http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2014/11/the-flesh.html ; http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2015/08/gods-will.html

Words ? Works ?

Are mere words, such as—“I believe” or “I accept Jesus as my Savior”—sufficient to get us into heaven? Even otherwise thoughtful evangelists and pastors seem to promise salvation (i.e., heaven) with the mere recitation of words. Yes, there are passages that seem to give “faith in Christ” exclusivity,¹ but what of the scriptural gestalt? And has this “doctrine” of mere words become a form of Christian vaporware?² a near déjà vu of the old-time “sale of indulgences”?³

Perhaps we could ask ourselves if there is a Christian parallel to this quote:

Network World magazine called vaporware an "epidemic" in 1989, and blamed the press [read: truth-seeker]  for not investigating whether developers' [read: evangalists'/pastors'] claims were true. Seven major companies issued a report in 1990 saying they felt vaporware had hurt the industry's credibility.⁴

Have promises of formulaic salvation become epidemic? Does such salvation hurt the credibility of the gospel message? Do we really think we can “coast” up an incline?

Sure our good works will NEVER get us into heaven, but what if good works are essential to get us to the edge of that unbridgeable chasm over which Christ’s atonement will carry us if we have followed the way, the truth and the light?

Here are a few scriptures that perhaps we should investigate (and remember) when considering faith, works, and salvation.⁵

O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways. (Old Testament | Ezekiel 33:20)

... shall not he render to every man according to his works? (Old Testament | Proverbs 24:12)

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (New Testament | Matthew 16:27)

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (New Testament | Titus 1:16)

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (New Testament | James 2:14-26)

… all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. … And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: (New Testament | Revelation 2:23-26)

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. (New Testament | Revelation 14:13)

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (New Testament | Revelation 20:12-13)

And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good. And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. (Book of Mormon | Alma 41:3-4)

And these things doth the Spirit manifest unto me; therefore I write unto you all. And for this cause I write unto you, that ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgment–seat of Christ, yea, every soul who belongs to the whole human family of Adam; and ye must stand to be judged of your works, whether they be good or evil; (Book of Mormon | Mormon 3:20)

And even unto the great and last day, when all people, and all kindreds, and all nations and tongues shall stand before God, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil— If they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting life; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of damnation; being on a parallel, the one on the one hand and the other on the other hand, according to the mercy, and the justice, and the holiness which is in Christ, who was before the world began. (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 26:4-5)

And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works. (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 27:15)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do; (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 27:21)

Write the works of this people, which shall be, even as hath been written, of that which hath been. For behold, out of the books which have been written, and which shall be written, shall this people be judged, for by them shall their works be known unto men. (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 27:24-25)

If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 42:29)

Surely we can see that mere words are not sufficient:

He that receiveth my law and doeth it, the same is my disciple; and he that saith he receiveth it and doeth it not, the same is not my disciple, and shall be cast out from among you; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 41:5)

and that many of our “wonderful works” will not be viewed as so wonderful:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (New Testament | Matthew 7:21-23)

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1. New Testament | Romans 3:27; 9:32; 10:9; 11:6; Galatians 2:16; 3:2-5; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5-7
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporware
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indulgence
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporware
5. Additional supporting scriptures re works:
  New Testament | 2 Timothy 3:17 ~ That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
New Testament | Matthew 5:16 ~ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
New Testament | Titus 2:7 ~ In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
New Testament | Titus 3:8 ~ This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
New Testament | 1 Corinthians 3:13-14 ~ Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 15:32-33 ~ And it came to pass that I said unto them that it was a representation of things both temporal and spiritual; for the day should come that they must be judged of their works, yea, even the works which were done by the temporal body in their days of probation. Wherefore, if they should die in their wickedness they must be cast off also, as to the things which are spiritual, which are pertaining to righteousness; wherefore, they must be brought to stand before God, to be judged of their works; and if their works have been filthiness they must needs be filthy; and if they be filthy it must needs be that they cannot dwell in the kingdom of God; if so, the kingdom of God must be filthy also.
Book of Mormon | Mosiah 5:15 ~ Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.
Book of Mormon | Mosiah 16:10-11 ~ Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption, and shall be brought to stand before the bar of God, to be judged of him according to their works whether they be good or whether they be evil— If they be good, to the resurrection of endless life and happiness; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of endless damnation, being delivered up to the devil, who hath subjected them, which is damnation—
Book of Mormon | Alma 7:24, 27 ~ And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works. … And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever. And thus I have spoken. Amen.
Book of Mormon | Mormon 6:21 ~ And the day soon cometh that your mortal must put on immortality, and these bodies which are now moldering in corruption must soon become incorruptible bodies; and then ye must stand before the judgment–seat of Christ, to be judged according to your works; and if it so be that ye are righteous, then are ye blessed with your fathers who have gone before you.
Book of Mormon | Mormon 8:19 ~ For behold, the same that judgeth rashly shall be judged rashly again; for according to his works shall his wages be; therefore, he that smiteth shall be smitten again, of the Lord.
Book of Mormon | Moroni 7:5 ~ For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.
Book of Mormon | Alma 12:28-30 ~ …[God] saw that it was expedient that man should know concerning the things whereof he had appointed unto them; Therefore he sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to behold of his glory. And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works.
Book of Mormon | Alma 13:3 ~ And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.
Book of Mormon | Alma 26:22 ~ Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.
Book of Mormon | Alma 40:21 ~ … the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works.
Book of Mormon | Ether 12:4 ~ Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.
Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 27:32 ~ But behold, it sorroweth me because of the fourth generation from this generation, for they are led away captive by him even as was the son of perdition; for they will sell me for silver and for gold, and for that which moth doth corrupt and which thieves can break through and steal. And in that day will I visit them, even in turning their works upon their own heads.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 59:23 ~ But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come.
JST New Testament | Matthew 7:23-35 ~ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. And, again, beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing; but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits; for do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Verily I say unto you, it is not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, that shall enter unto the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. For the day soon cometh, that men shall come before me to judgment, to be judged according to their works. And many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name; and in thy name cast out devils; and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I say, Ye never knew me; depart from me ye that work iniquity. Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock, and the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand; and the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.