Déjà Vu: A Corban* Variant?

When Jesus used the word corban* in chastising the Pharisees and scribes, what did He mean?

11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. (New Testament | Mark 7:11-13)

Here is an explanation:

Jesus gives the proof of their corruption of the Law by citing their use of “Corban.” Moses had instructed God’s people to “honor their father and mother” (Exodus 20:12), but the Pharisees negated that command by teaching that they could give money to the temple in lieu of helping their parents in need. Whatever money might have been used to provide for aging parents could be dedicated to the temple treasury instead. Saying, “It is Corban” would exempt a person from his responsibility to his parents. In other words, the Pharisees took a legitimate Corban offering and used it in an illegitimate and devious way to defraud their parents (and enrich themselves). Thus, the Law of God was nullified.¹

So, are we seeing, in Christian churches worldwide, a variation of this corruption? What of the  preachers of the “Prosperity Gospel” as it is called²? Some say, in essence:

“Give generously to our ministry, [subtext: even if you can't afford it; even if it means you might not (or that someone else³ will need to) meet your financial obligations] because if you trust enough, your needs will be met and blessed by a generous, loving, reciprocating God. No need to worry about obligations to family and others, because if you are faithful to God, He will be faithful to you.”⁴

Do we see any “corban-like” déjà vu today?

As to the first-fruits argument made by some for giving off-the-top (before anything else), let us ask: Were first-fruits not a memorial offering with no calculation of percentage and no conception of avoiding temporal obligation where one might come under this condemnation:

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel (New Testament | 1 Timothy 5:8)?

Just something to consider.

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*Hebrew qorbān offering https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corban
corban orkor·ban [kawr-buhn Sephardic Hebrew kawr-bahn; Ashkenazic Hebrew kawr-buhn ] SHOW IPA
noun
• a sacrifice or offering made to God, especially among the ancient Hebrews in fulfillment of a vow.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/corban
https://www.biblestudy.org/question/what-is-corban.html

1. https://www.gotquestions.org/corban.html
2. Some views on the Prosperity Gospel:
• Why The Prosperity Gospel Is Wrong!
(The Ramsay Show | May 31, 2020 | Time 7:47 min.) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUJjUxyIwbA
• Why I Abominate the Prosperity ‘Gospel’
(Desiring God | Oct. 27, 2009 | Time 10:34 min.) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLRue4nwJaA
• Francis Chan on What's Wrong with the Prosperity Gospel
(The Gospel Coalition | Feb. 11, 2019 | Time 1:59 min) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sLFgC4cRuI
• Are you Following the Prosperity Gospel without knowing it?
(How to Faith A Life | Feb 24, 2023 | Time 10:34) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcAmLfQ9QCw
3. My mother tithes 10 percent -- but she can't make her house payments
We're happy to help with her second mortgage -- but not if the money goes to her church. By CARY TENNIS https://www.salon.com/2006/12/08/mother_tithing/
4. Differing views on off-the-top:
• Pay Bills or Give Tithes and Offerings First? Written by John Avanzini https://www.cfaith.com/index.php/article-display/105-featured-c5-articles/21547-pay-bills-or-give-tithes-and-offerings-first
• The Law of Tithing Elder Daniel L. Johnson Of the Seventy https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2006/11/the-law-of-tithing?lang=eng
• I invite you to pay your tithing to the Lord first, before you meet any other financial obligations.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/personal-finances-for-self-reliance/3-paying-tithes-and-offerings/learn-maximum-time-45-minutes?lang=eng
• https://exitchurchianity.com/2014/07/11/should-i-tithe-or-pay-my-bills/
• Ensuring that the expenses of a religious organization are covered before you make sure that your own expenses are covered is out of order and backwards. Paying the utilities of a building that no one lives in, while not paying the utilities of the building where you and your family live is negligent and irresponsible. https://exitchurchianity.com/2014/07/11/should-i-tithe-or-pay-my-bills/
• https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Mormonism_and_church_finances/Tithing/Paying_tithing_versus_feeding_your_children_or_paying_your_rent
• https://www.mormonwiki.com/Mormon_Tithing
• Sacred Transformations By Aaron L. West Church Publishing Services Department https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2012/12/sacred-transformations?lang=eng
• The Language of the Gospel By Elder Valeri V. Cordón Of the Seventy
After some events related to a civil war in Central America, my father’s business went bankrupt. He went from about 200 full-time employees to fewer than five sewing operators who worked as needed in the garage of our home. One day during those difficult times, I heard my parents discussing whether they should pay tithing or buy food for the children. // On Sunday, I followed my father to see what he was going to do. After our Church meetings, I saw him take an envelope and put his tithing in it. That was only part of the lesson. The question that remained for me was what we were going to eat. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/the-language-of-the-gospel?lang=eng
• https://exitchurchianity.com/2014/07/11/should-i-tithe-or-pay-my-bills/
• https://exitchurchianity.com/2014/07/11/the-tithing-laws-part-1/
• https://exitchurchianity.com/2014/07/11/abrahams-tithe-to-melchizedek-part-1/
• https://exitchurchianity.com/2014/07/11/abrahams-tithe-to-melchizedek-part-3/
• http://www.thecrossunveiled.com/tithing.html
• One of the reasons why God told the Levitical priests that they were “cursed with a curse” in Malachi 3 was because they kept the best of the tithe for themselves and didn’t put it in the storehouse, thereby oppressing the poor, the fatherless, and the widows. https://exitchurchianity.com/2014/07/11/should-i-tithe-or-pay-my-bills/
• https://thetithinghoax.com/pay-tithes-or-debt/

New Season | New Year? Enoch's Calendar Month I (One)

(Times and Seasons series: Post #VII)

These prior posts (and these others¹) may help in understanding this post:

Signs, Seasons, Days, and Years: # II (Enoch)²
Pondering Enoch's* Calendar? - #V³ 

Note: I have chosen Kirtland Ohio as the reference point for dates / times at https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/@5159809, but other locations should yield similar observations.

According to (my understanding, thus far, of) Enoch's Calendar, we are approaching a seasonal transition to Spring and a new year's beginning marked by the Vernal Equinox. But when is the equinox? It's advertised as March 20 for 2023 (Northern hemisphere), yet the 9 portions of Light and 9 portions of Dark (out of 18 portions of time) set forth by Enoch (to mark the seasonal shift) comes closest to a 9:9 split (or 12:12 split per our modern timing) on March 17. The hours of daylight for March 17 are 11:59:52, being .0048 seconds short of an even 12:12 split. The days before and after March 17 do not come that close. And yes, I am aware of the explanations for March 20th,⁴ but the question is: Will there be any other sign in the heavens to serve as second witness to the seasonal transition taking place on the 17th or the 20th or some other date which according to Enoch's calendar layout would be day 31 of Month XII. The four 31st days of Months III, VI. IX. and XII are purportedly the transition days that herald new seasons and new months.

As the dark moon, called new moon in lunar phase charts, is set for March 21, the first crescent waxing moon (real new moon?) will probably appear March 22 or 23, thus the synchronicity with the Equinox is off for Enoch's perfect months of 30, 30, 31 that allegedly mark each season of 91 days and each solar year of four seasons of 364 days.

So, do we wait for the first waxing crescent of the moon after the equinox to start the season and the new month? Do we wait for the first Wednesday after the Equinox to start the year and month as some do? Do we accept the nearest 12:12 (9:9) split and start the new month and day that evening of the Equinox or at midnight or the next morning?  And what's with the periodic intercalation to adjust for extra time? — to accommodate the strange yearly surplus of ¼ day? or is it one and ¼ days? Has this confusion of time been deliberate? 
 
As I have just had occasion to read Genesis through Deuteronomy twice in the past month and observed the micro-details of God's moral and tabernacle requirements, I remain puzzled with the apparent imprecision of His clock and calendar. Surely we are missing some vital knowledge or did things go haywire at the flood or at some other cosmic, catastrophic event?

Thus, the observations and studies continue.

Note: To those upset by these explorations and views (and probable mistakes and misinterpretations),  consider that much of what we insist is true is probably not, as we will find out in due course. Dogmatic science often converts into pscience which one can explore by searching “pscience” through this blog's search bar in the left column or at Deja Vu ~ Times.

Here is a PDF grid of what Month I (One) might look like if we looked to Enoch instead of Pope Gregory (assuming, of course, that Enoch hasn't suffered text corruption — and who knows for sure?!). Day 1 of Month I, in theory, follows Day 31 (transition day) between Month XII and Month I. 



For those interested in what has happened in scripture / history during Month I (One), here is a list:

Calendar — First Month (35 references)

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. (Old Testament | Genesis 1:3-5)

13 ¶ And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. (Old Testament | Genesis 8:13)

1 AND the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. (Old Testament | Exodus 12:1 - 2)

18 ¶ In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. (Old Testament | Exodus 12:18)

2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. ...
17 ¶ And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up. (Old Testament | Exodus 40:2, 17)

4 ¶ These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover.
6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. (Old Testament | Leviticus 23:4 - 8)

1 AND the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
2 Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.
3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
4 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.
5 And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel. (Old Testament | Numbers 9:1 - 5)

1 THEN came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. (Old Testament | Numbers 20:1)

16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.
17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.
18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein: (Old Testament | Numbers 28:16 - 18)

2 And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out.
3 And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. (Old Testament | Numbers 33:2 - 3)

18 And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
19 ¶ And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.
20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal. (Old Testament | Joshua 4:18 - 20)

15 These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west. (Old Testament | 1 Chronicles 12:15)

1 NOW the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand.
2 Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
3 Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month. (Old Testament | 1 Chronicles 27:1 - 3)

3 ¶ He [Hezekiah] in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. (Old Testament | 2 Chronicles 29:3)

17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.
18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof. (Old Testament | 2 Chronicles 29:17 - 18)

1 MOREOVER Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
2 And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD, (Old Testament | 2 Chronicles 35:1 - 2)

18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. (Old Testament | Ezra 6:18 - 19)

9 For upon the first day of the first month began he [Ezra] to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. (Old Testament | Ezra 7:9)

30 So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.
31 ¶ Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way. (Old Testament | Ezra 8:30 - 31)

16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month. (Old Testament | Ezra 10:16 - 17)

7 ¶ In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
8 ¶ And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. ...
10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
12 Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. (Old Testament | Esther 3:7-8, 10-12)

17 ¶ And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me [Ezekiel], saying,
18 Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it: (Old Testament | Ezekiel 29:17 - 18)

20 ¶ And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me [Ezekiel], saying,
21 Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword.
22 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand. (Old Testament | Ezekiel 30:20 - 22)

18 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the first month, in the first day of the month, thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary:
19 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and put it upon the posts of the house, and upon the four corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court.
20 And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple: so shall ye reconcile the house.
21 In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.
22 And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering.
23 And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to the LORD, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days; and a kid of the goats daily for a sin offering.
24 And he shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and an hin of oil for an ephah. (Old Testament | Ezekiel 45:18 - 24)

4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: (Old Testament | Daniel 10:4 - 7)

23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. (Old Testament | Joel 2:23)

1 AND now, it came to pass in the twenty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, behold, when the Lamanites awoke on the first morning of the first month, behold, they found Amalickiah was dead in his own tent; and they also saw that Teancum was ready to give them battle on that day. (Book of Mormon | Alma 52:1)

1 AND now it came to pass in the commencement of the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges, on the second day in the first month, Moroni received an epistle from Helaman, stating the affairs of the people in that quarter of the land. (Book of Mormon | Alma 56:1)

3 And the people began to look with great earnestness for the sign which had been given by the prophet Samuel, the Lamanite, yea, for the time that there should be darkness for the space of three days over the face of the land.
4 And there began to be great doubtings and disputations among the people, notwithstanding so many signs had been given.
5 And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land. (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 8:3 - 5)

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1. Some of the calendar / time series posts:
https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2022/04/gods-prophetic-day-evening-to-evening.html
https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2022/09/deciphering-heavens-times-signs-and.html
https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2022/09/deciphering-night-and-day-or-day-and.html
https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2022/12/signs-seasons-iv-do-we-need-sundial.html
2. https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2022/09/signs-seasons-days-and-years-part-ii.html
3. https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2023/02/pondering-enochs-calendar-v.html
4. Small sample:
https://www.farmersalmanac.com/spring-equinox-first-day-spring
https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-vernal-or-spring-equinox/

Déjà Vu Dilemma: The Watchmen?

As we observe “leaders”¹ today, do we observe watchmen or do we observe “children” carried about by every wind of social, politically-correct, nwoke² or world-order (WO) doctrine that is sweeping over the world.

Where, in our last-days' governments, do we find elected or appointed leaders who are watchmen:

▪ like unto
  - Asa (1 Kings 15)
  - Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 17)
  - Jotham (2 Chr, 27)
  - Hezekiah (2 Kings 20; 2 Chr 29, 31)
  - Josiah (2 Chr. 34)³
  - Mosiah₁ (Omni 1)
  - Benjamin (Omni 1; Words of Mormon 1)
  - Mosiah₂ (Mosiah 1-6+), or
▪ like unto governors / judges
  - Alma₂ (Mosiah 29)
  - Nephihah (Alma 4)
  - Paharon₁ (Alma 51, 61)
  - Lachoneus (3Nephi 3), or
▪ like unto military commanders
  - Zoram (Alma 16)
  - Moroni (Alma 43)
  - Lehi₃ (Alma 49)
  - Gidgiddoni (3 Nephi 3)
  - Mormon₂ (3 Nephi 5; Mormon 1-3).

Why (considering tens of thousands of “leaders” through the centuries) are there so few that can be characterized as watchmen? watchmen who stand for truth, accountability, integrity, courage, freedom, justice, and judgment? Where are the last-days' leaders who are resisting the WO narratives of lockdown, lockstep, lockup? Yes, there are a few — alarmingly too few — who are braving aggressive censorship, maligning, and loss. Where are the last-days' leaders who are resisting and exposing the hypocrisies of:

▪ “my body, their choice”
▪ “safe and effective”
▪ compelled speech
▪ compelled affirmation
▪ pro-WHO
▪ pro-WEF
▪ pro-P3
▪ pro-global
▪ pro-controlled-utopia?

Do we really think that conglomerate giants that have been fined billions in the past for deception and profiteering can be trusted with anything⁴? that investing in megacorps has no sin factor? that facilitating the power aggregation of the few against the (rights of the) many will bring anything but WOE, WOE, WOE?

How do the following laments about watchmen apply today? How are we measuring up to this Ephesians' directive? as last-days' watchmen?

14 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;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ...
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness (New Testament | Ephesians 4:14-15, 17-19).

Laments / Warnings⁵:

10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
12 Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant (Old Testament | Isaiah 56:10-12).

17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul (Old Testament | Ezekiel 3:17-21).

15 Behold, the destroyer I have sent forth to destroy and lay waste mine enemies; and not many years hence they shall not be left to pollute mine heritage, and to blaspheme my name upon the lands which I have consecrated for the gathering together of my saints.
16 Behold, I have commanded my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., to say unto the strength of my house, even my warriors, my young men, and middle–aged, to gather together for the redemption of my people, and throw down the towers of mine enemies, and scatter their watchmen;
17 But the strength of mine house have not hearkened unto my words.
18 But inasmuch as there are those who have hearkened unto my words, I have prepared a blessing and an endowment for them, if they continue faithful (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 105:15-18).

O that we were all watchmen in the language of Isaiah!

6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
7 And give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Old Testament | Isaiah 62:6-7).

To those few who are true watchmen and watchwomen: Thank You, forever.

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1. (national, international, regional, local, elected, appointed, or elevated by media; and whether in government, business, religion, charity, entertainment, etc.)
2. nwoke: https://moc-n-dox.blogspot.com/2022/10/jesters-to-rescue.html (see section: Clarifying questions to the Woke in bottom half of post),
3. e.g., see https://www.thejenkinsinstitute.com/blog/2015/5/5-good-kings-33-evil-kings-and-7-lessons
4. https://moc-n-dox.blogspot.com/2021/11/trust-us-honest.html
5. More Lamentation & Warning (emphasis added):
Old Testament | Psalms 127:1
1 EXCEPT the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Old Testament | 2 Kings 17:8-12
8 And [they] walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.
9 And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
10 And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:
11 And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:
12 For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing .
Old Testament | Jeremiah 6:10-30
10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.
12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.
13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
18 ¶ Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.
19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
20 To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.
21 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.
22 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.
23 They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.
24 We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.
26 ¶ O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.
27 I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.
28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.
29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them .
Old Testament | Ezekiel 33:2-20
2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?
11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
17 ¶ Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
19 But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
20 ¶ Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
Old Testament | Hosea 9:7-9
7 The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.
9 They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.
Old Testament | Micah 7:2-9
2 The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.
3 ¶ That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
4 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.
5 ¶ Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
6 For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
8 ¶ Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness .
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 101:44-54
44 A certain nobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he said unto his servants: Go ye unto my vineyard, even upon this very choice piece of land, and plant twelve olive–trees;
45 And set watchmen round about them, and build a tower, that one may overlook the land round about, to be a watchman upon the tower, that mine olive–trees may not be broken down when the enemy shall come to spoil and take upon themselves the fruit of my vineyard.
46 Now, the servants of the nobleman went and did as their lord commanded them, and planted the olive–trees, and built a hedge round about, and set watchmen, and began to build a tower.
47 And while they were yet laying the foundation thereof, they began to say among themselves: And what need hath my lord of this tower?
48 And consulted for a long time, saying among themselves: What need hath my lord of this tower, seeing this is a time of peace?
49 Might not this money be given to the exchangers? For there is no need of these things.
50 And while they were at variance one with another they became very slothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of their lord.
51 And the enemy came by night, and broke down the hedge; and the servants of the nobleman arose and were affrighted, and fled; and the enemy destroyed their works, and broke down the olive–trees.
52 Now, behold, the nobleman, the lord of the vineyard, called upon his servants, and said unto them, Why! what is the cause of this great evil?
53 Ought ye not to have done even as I commanded you, and—after ye had planted the vineyard, and built the hedge round about, and set watchmen upon the walls thereof—built the tower also, and set a watchman upon the tower, and watched for my vineyard, and not have fallen asleep, lest the enemy should come upon you?
54 And behold, the watchman upon the tower would have seen the enemy while he was yet afar off; and then ye could have made ready and kept the enemy from breaking down the hedge thereof, and saved my vineyard from the hands of the destroyer.