The Way of the Shortcut?

Shortcuts can prove useful at times, but how often do they prove the way of compromise and deception? Here is, perhaps, the first recorded attempt at a shortcut to power:

[B]ehold, the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me [God], saying, Give me thine honor,^[1] which is my power;²

For thou [O Lucifer] hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.³

Sometime thereafter, we encounter Cain taking a shortcut to power and gain:

And Cain said: Truly I am Mahan, the master of this great secret, that I may murder and get gain. Wherefore Cain was called Master Mahan, and he gloried in his wickedness.⁴

Do we ever ask ourselves where we are? on the path⁵? on a shortcut? or somewhere in-between? Here are some questions for reflection about shortcuts:

▪ Do headlines and history not witness that shortcuts are the preoccupation of the “natural man” when pursuing power, wealth, fame, knowledge, health, fitness, enlightenment, success, etc. etc.?
▪ Does taking psychedelic drugs give “access to higher spiritual dimensions”?⁶ or is it just déjà vu Eden where we are persuaded that the mere consuming of some physical substance will make us “more like unto the Gods” without developing the attributes of Gods?
▪ What of taking steroids, and the like for athletic enhancements and performance?
▪ What of medicating instead of adjusting diet and lifestyle?
▪ What of controlling relationships with mood in place of authentic, charitable communication?
▪ What of reading only the CliffsNotes?
▪ Have we ever been (or ever) defrauded, conned, or plagiarized for gain?
▪ How informed can we be about any issue if we do not study and prove all things⁷?
▪ How often does the preference for shortcuts generate evil ends as people compromise or sell their souls for quick rewards?
▪ What are the preferred shortcuts in our personal lives?

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1. Honor (noun)

1a: good name or public esteem : REPUTATION
  b: a showing of usually merited respect: RECOGNITION
2. PRIVILEGE
3: a person of superior standing —now used especially as a title for a holder of high office
4: one whose worth brings respect or fame: CREDIT
...
6: an evidence or symbol of distinction: such as
   a: an exalted title or rank
   ...
   d: archaic : a gesture of deference : BOW
   e: honors plural
...
8a: a keen sense of ethical conduct: INTEGRITY
  b: one's word given as a guarantee of performance
...
(Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honor )

2. Doctrine and Covenants | Section 29:36
3. Old Testament | Isaiah 14:13–14
4. Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:31
5. New Testament | Matthew 7:13–14 ~ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
6. Michael Pollan on the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs (Encore Sept. 25, 2018)
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/author-michael-pollan-on-the-therapeutic-use-of-psychedelic-drugs-1.4836745
7. New Testament | 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ~ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good  [—instead of rigidly holding to dogmas, wishes, expectations, personalities, biases, prejudices, "hard priors" as in: "If you have a strongly held belief with an emotional component, the brain defends information that reinforces those ‘priors’ and is skeptical of information that challenges them. … People who hold these hard priors filter information to support their perceptions." (From the work of political scientist Hank Jenkins-Smith of the University of Oklahoma as quoted, in Newsweek, October 13, 2010, pp. 29-30 by science writer Sharon Begley about voter tendencies—observations that seem applicable to almost everything that requires choice or discernment), ETC. We all do it, but awareness may sometimes help circumvent it.]

"The Love of Money"?

(Another Prophetic Voice from the Dust — of 1800s AD?)

I know of no country, indeed, where the love of money has taken stronger hold on the affections of men, and where the profounder contempt is expressed for the theory of the permanent equality^[1] of property. (Tocqueville, Alexis de, Democracy in America, vol. 1)

Men living in democratic ages have many passions, but most of their passions either end in the love of riches or proceed from it. The cause of this is, not that their souls are narrower, but that the importance of money is really greater at such times. When all the members of a community are independent of or indifferent to each other, the co-operation of each of them can only be obtained by paying for it: this infinitely multiplies the purposes to which wealth may be applied, and increases its value. When the reverence which belonged to what is old has vanished, birth, condition, and profession no longer distinguish men, or scarcely distinguish them at all: hardly anything but money remains to create strongly marked differences between them, and to raise some of them above the common level. The distinction originating in wealth is increased by the disappearance and diminution of all other distinctions. Amongst aristocratic nations money only reaches to a few points on the vast circle of man's desires—in democracies it seems to lead to all. The love of wealth is therefore to be traced, either as a principal or an accessory motive, at the bottom of all that the Americans do: this gives to all their passions a sort of family likeness, and soon renders the survey of them exceedingly wearisome. This perpetual recurrence of the same passion is monotonous; the peculiar methods by which this passion seeks its own gratification are no less so. (Tocqueville, Alexis de, Democracy in America, vol. 2; bold emphasis added.)

If one will follow the daily exposures coming out of Crowd Source the Truth² and George Webb,³ (and many others), one will come to understand how the love of money (and power) has brought the U.S. (and the world) to political / legal / moral / spiritual / constitutional crisis — to this “perpetual recurrence.” Ratlines marketing every (in)conceivable form of corruption are all about MONEY and the power it brings. The “monotonous” Master Mahan⁴ plan of “rape, pillage, and plunder” is flooding this world and we remain ignorant or dismissive at our dire peril.

Please listen to the warning voices.

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1. Contrast with:
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 70:14 ~ Nevertheless, in your temporal things you shall be equal, and this not grudgingly, otherwise the abundance of the manifestations of the Spirit shall be withheld.
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 78:5-7 ~ That you may be equal in the bonds of heavenly things, yea, and earthly things also, for the obtaining of heavenly things. For if ye are not equal in earthly things ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things; For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you.
2. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Cl9QaRtuW9CNjP7pP4BBQ
3. https://www.youtube.com/user/georgwebb
4. Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:31~ And Cain said: Truly I am Mahan, the master of this great secret, that I may murder and get gain. Wherefore Cain was called Master Mahan, and he gloried in his wickedness.
Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:49 ~ For Lamech having entered into a covenant with Satan, after the manner of Cain, wherein he became Master Mahan, master of that great secret which was administered unto Cain by Satan; and Irad, the son of Enoch, having known their secret, began to reveal it unto the sons of Adam:

Priestcraft ?

Recently I became aware of a man holding “life-changing,” 3-day events promoting How to use "Spiritual Laws" to create measurable "Real World" Success. Pre-registration enrollment per single ticket is $650.00 USD for “General Admission”; $895.00 for “VIP Guest”; and $1,995.00 for “Diamond.” And apparently, at the events, a further commitment for $400.00 /month/person is encouraged in order to maximize success.

Some families are thrilled with the about-face of other family members after they have begun to put these “Spiritual Laws” into practice.

BUT, here are some questions to consider:

▪ Does motivation for obedience matter? In other words: are we following “spiritual laws” because God asks it of us? or are we doing it in pursuit of money or some other real-world agenda?¹

▪ Would God be justified in asking: “When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?” (Old Testament | Isaiah 1:12)?

▪ Could impure motives be like offering “polluted bread upon mine altar” (Old Testament | Malachi 1:7)?

▪ Might an impure motivation warrant a rebuke similar to what Peter gave to one who sought to introduce money into spiritual matters, as in: “for thy heart is not right in the sight of God” (New Testament | Acts 8:21)?

▪ What do the scriptures define as priestcraft?

He [God] commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:29)

▪ Is this but another variation on the “seed-faith theology” promulgated by many televangelists who equate “seed” (and harvest) with the giving of money to their ministries?²

▪ What clues about priorities, focus, and motivation are given when a man presents his qualifications to teach prosperity principles as:

◦ “became a millionaire by the time he was 30 years old”;
◦ created a process that “ helped him go from making $1,000 a week to making $1,000 an hour”;
◦ “being in the top 1% in the world of income producers.”

▪ Is “your Greatest Asset... YOU!” as this man asserts? or is it God and His uncorrupted truths?

▪ Could these scriptures have application to this man, his “spiritual laws” and all his evangelical cousins?

And it came to pass that he did teach these things so much that many did believe on his words, even so many that they began to support him and give him money. (Book of Mormon | Alma 1:5)

Nevertheless, this did not put an end to the spreading of priestcraft through the land; for there were many who loved the vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching false doctrines [motives?]; and this they did for the sake of riches and honor. (Book of Mormon | Alma 1:16)

HO, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. (Old Testament | Isaiah 55:1-3; see also Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:50)

Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:25)

Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance. Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other [without tiers or grades], and none are forbidden. He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion. Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a ommandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish. But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish. (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:27-31)

But it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church of God began to persecute those that did belong to the church of God, and had taken upon them the name of Christ. Yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them with all manner of words, and this because of their humility; because they were not proud in their own eyes, and because they did impart the word of God, one with another, without money and without price. (Book of Mormon | Alma 1:19-20)

▪ Who will most people blame and what will they abandon if these “spiritual laws” (outward performances??) don’t “create measurable ‘Real World’ Success” as they were hyped into expecting?

We live in a world rampant with deceiving and being deceived (yes, even—maybe especially—in God’s vineyard), so perhaps we should take to heart God’s warning:

And my vineyard has become corrupted every whit; and there is none which doeth good save it be a few; and they err in many instances because of priestcrafts, all having corrupt minds [and motives??]. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 33:4)

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(All bold emphasis in quoted scripture above was made by this blogger.)
1. Consider the motives of Cain: see footnote one at http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2014/12/the-pity-ploy.html
2. See: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Televangelists (HBO) [LANGUAGE CAUTION] at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y1xJAVZxXg (Time ~ 20:05 min.);
Seed Faith, part 1(Oral Roberts) with Benny Hinn at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saIqpKRAZIw (Time ~ 10:07 min.) [TRUTH CAUTION];
Seed and Faith with Rod Parsley & Cindy Trimm, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbshUsMYxZg (Time ~ 13:37 min.) [TRUTH CAUTION];
The Word of Faith Movement and the Cultic Renewal of Indulgences by J. Danny Hone at http://www.christianissues.com/roots.html

The Pity Ploy

(“It’s not my fault!”)

In her book, The Sociopath Next Door, Martha Stout gives her assessment of the best tip-off to avoiding sociopaths. It is not “some sinister-sounding detail of behavior or snippet of body language or threatening use of language that is the subtle give-away” for “none of these things is reliably present” (p. 107). She continues:

Rather the best clue is, of all things, the pity ploy. The most reliable sign, the most universal behavior of unscrupulous people is not directed, as one might imagine, at our fearfulness. It is perversely, an appeal to our sympathy (p. 107).

When deciding whom to trust, bear in mind that the combination of consistently bad or egregiously inadequate behavior with frequent plays for your pity is as close to a warning mark on a conscienceless person’s forehead as you will ever be given (p. 109).

All of which is a fascinating insight considering the brief profile of the first conscienceless person identified by name. Here is what was written of Cain after he murdered his brother Abel.

And Cain gloried in that which he had done, saying: I am free; surely the flocks of my brother falleth into my hands.

Then God appears on the scene.

And the Lord said unto Cain: Where is Abel, thy brother?

And he said: I know not. Am I my brother's keeper?

And the Lord said: What hast thou done?
The voice of thy brother's blood cries unto me from the ground.
And now thou shalt be cursed from the earth
which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand.
When thou tillest the ground
it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength.
A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
(Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:33-37)

Now, comes the pity ploy.

And Cain said unto the Lord:
Satan tempted me because of my brother's flocks.
And I was wroth also; for his offering thou didst accept^[1] and not mine;
my punishment is greater than I can bear.
Behold thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the Lord,
and from thy face shall I be hid;
and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth;
and it shall come to pass, that he that findeth me will slay me,
because of mine iniquities, for these things are not hid from the Lord.
(Moses 5:38-39)

And so it began and so it continues, and will continue unless we awaken to things as they were and as they now are; and thenceforth follow the advice:

Never agree, out of pity or for any other reason, to help a sociopath conceal his or her true character [or crimes]. ... Other people deserve to be warned more than sociopaths deserve to have you keep their secrets (Stout, pp. 161-162).

And that goes especially for the human agents of sociopathic / psychopathic institutions, societies, clubs, organizations, and nations.

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1. Some have wondered why

… the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering; But unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not respect. Now Satan knew this, and it pleased him. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. (Moses 5:20-21)

(Note: it is not because Cain’s offering was the fruits of the field, for “first fruits” are acceptable. Listen to the temple endowment words.)

There may be several factors to account for God’s lack of respect, but surely this reason is foremost:

And Cain loved Satan more than God. And Satan commanded him, saying: Make an offering unto the Lord. (Moses 5:18)

So, Cain was acting in obedience to Satan, not God. Also, we do not know the quality of Cain’s offering, but we do know he already had an attitude problem:

Who is the Lord that I should know him? (Moses 5:16)
And Cain was wroth, and listened not any more to the voice of the Lord, (Moses 5:26)

Thus, his perceived “obedience” to God was just the opposite.