Has there ever been an election where “motes and beams”3 were so evident? where loyalists on both sides were so spell-bound they could not see (the 360 truth of their candidate) when seeing it? could not hear (the 360 truth) when hearing it? when the “sins” of their chosen ones were ignored, discounted, dismissed, excused, even spun into filigree in order to hold fast to loyalties? preferences? hopes? But where are our loyalties supposed to be?
Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil. And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God. (Doctrine and Covenants 98:10-11)What does one do when one is faced with a reverse “Sophie's Choice”?4—when the imposed choice is between two power-hungry candidates? Are we so naive about our rapid descent into darkness that we think the fork in the downward road gave us a right choice? that the adversary of all good cannot have a forked tongue? that both these candidates did not transparently manifest lying tongues, speech upon speech? that the “greatness” advocated was for an economic, military, prestige, power, and competitive renewal? a revival founded upon the tenets of Babylon?
If God is displeased when we blame Him for things a person does in misdirected agency, is He equally displeased if we mis-credit Him with our contrived, corrupted choices, plans, and imaginations?
Yet, can God still make use of our failings and sins, whatever they are? Could He have despised the choice that was manufactured for and with our consent, yet continue to work with us—long-suffering and merciful till the point of no return?
If we could honestly see our situation, would Isaiah, again, be walking naked and barefoot5 as a sign to us that our newest emperor has no clothes, despite claims and boastings?
If we don't wake up to the vast deceptions that surround us on every side—right and left—will we be the ones soon walking naked and barefoot in déjà vu of other fallen kingdoms and empires? in likeness of king Zedekiah and his people?
And how stunning it has become to hear pastors, ministers, and other Christians counsel that since Trump IS God's anointed, he is not to be questioned in his tactics, agendas, and proceedings because to question anything Trump decides or does is to question God. What a perfect recipe for destruction! God help us all!!
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1. Just visit many evangelical and Christian conservative broadcasts, and then honestly ask: What is the source of these dreams and “prophecies”? Can the dark-side appear as an angel of light? Can his hosts tell fortunes and futures in order to seduce and deceive (even well-meaning people)? How can we discern? Will a false prophecy have clues within its text? words like “a man of his word” when the man's recorded words (evident to all who will listen), manifest the very opposite of integrity?
2. Mattaniah/Zedekiah, the last king of Judah who presided over the last days of a people who would not turn from the ways of idolatry and trusting in the arms of flesh—the ways of Babylon. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zedekiah
3. New Testament | Luke 6:42 ~ Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie%27s_Choice_(film)
5. Old Testament | Isaiah20:2-4 ~ At the same time spake the Lord by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. And the Lord said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia; So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
