Does He Really Mean It ?!

When you, therefore, shall see the abomination^[*] of desolation^[**], spoken of by Daniel the prophet, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, then you shall stand in the holy place; whoso readeth let him understand.

[Understand what? The timing? the coded references? the latter-day places?]

Then let them who are in Judea [?] flee into the mountains; Let him who is on the housetop flee, and not return to take anything out of his house; Neither let him who is in the field return back to take his clothes; (Pearl of Great Price JS-Matthew 1:12-15; see also New Testament Matthew 24:15-18 and Mark 13:14-16, provided in footnote † below).

When that time of the AoD comes, what are we going to be tempted to “return back” to retrieve?

▪ Purse / wallet / ID?
▪ Cash reserves?
▪ Vehicle keys?
▪ 72-hr. emergency kit?
▪ Food storage?
▪ Camping gear?
▪ A weapon?
▪ Better shoes / clothes?
▪ Some electronic device?
▪ Scriptures?
▪ Medicine?
▪ Some irreplaceable treasure: ________________?

Will the urge to “return back” be dictated by common sense, rationality, “necessity,” preconditioning, emergency management training? Is the “thing” retrieved going to be something telestial? terrestrial? Is it going to be worth it? Or will this command to “flee, and not return to take anything” constitute a test of infinite trust—to flee from everything lesser toward something greater? a choice of confidence between the visible and the invisible?

NOTE: the above questions relate to the time when we “shall see the abomination of desolation.” In this case, it appears we are to follow the command to flee without turning back for anything. For other emergencies, I think we are to follow the Spirit. So, the critical question seems to be: Will we know the AoD when we see it??

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* Abomination synonyms: ? atrocity, disgrace, horror, obscenity, outrage, evil, crime, monstrosity, anathema, bane; detestation, loathing, hatred, aversion, antipathy, revulsion, repugnance, abhorrence, odium, execration, disgust, horror, hostility
** Desolation synonyms: ? misery, sadness, unhappiness, despondency, sorrow, depression, grief, woe, bleakness, starkness, barrenness, sterility; wildness; isolation, loneliness, remoteness;

† New Testament Matthew 24:15-18 ~ When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judæa flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
New Testament Mark 13:14-16 ~ But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judæa flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

What are we here for?

As I listen to casual conversations of those around me, and observe the preoccupations of their days, I understand more and more the lamentations of Isaiah, Jeremiah, the Book of Mormon prophets, et al.. So many “good” people seem utterly oblivious to the LAW of their progression and transformation. There is outer work AND there is inner work, but with all the busy-ness and emphasis on outer work—running to and fro in the service of tradition, custom, appearance, other’s expectations, worldly pursuits, etc.—who has time for that “selfish,” nebulous, mysterious inner-stuff? (Or so the thinking too often goes!) But perhaps we should ask ourselves: Is God as tired of all our religious “doings” as He was in the days of Isaiah¹? Is He as disappointed with us as He was with the Church at Ephesus²?

from office.microsoft.com

Do we think that God simply hands out attachable wings to high-speed caterpillars? Or are we going to have to do a little cocooning with Him to achieve the requisite transformation?³

Perhaps we can learn a thing or two from Mother Earth. (Have you noticed how much God loves His creations and incessantly refers to them in alluding to the mysteries?) Here is what He said about Mother Earth and the LAW she is abiding:

[V]erily I say unto you, the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law—Wherefore, it shall be sanctified; yea, notwithstanding it shall die, it shall be quickened again, and shall abide the power by which it is quickened, and the righteous shall inherit it. (Doctrine and Covenants Section 88:25-26)

So who are the righteous? Are they not (like Mother Earth), those who are filling the measure of their creation (seeking to become divine beings; doing the will of God) and transgressing not⁴ the LAW of the celestial kingdom (via repentance and the atonement).

So, let’s ask ourselves:

▪ What is the law we are abiding?
▪ How are we doing with the Ten Commandments⁵?
▪ How about the Two⁵?
▪ How about the One⁵?
▪ How deep is our inner work?
▪ Do we even know what that means?
▪ Does it relate in any way to:

▫ self-discipline
▫ integrity
▫ seeking growth, enlightenment, and transformation with all our heart
▫ the greater good
▫ being still
▫ being tested
▫ understanding parables and symbolism
▫ following the words and example of Nephi:

I, Nephi, … having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, … (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 2:16)

For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round. (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 10:19)

Somehow it just seems that too many of us don’t give enough thought and action to the alchemy of our own transformation; that we don’t even evaluate how we are doing, day after day; that we have forgotten the transformative power of  “return and report” at the end of every day.

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1. Old Testament Isaiah 1:10 - 17 ~ Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 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.
2. New Testament Revelation 2:1-5 ~ UNTO the angel of the church of Ephesus write; … I know thy works, and thy labour [service?], and thy patience, … and for my name's sake hast labored [served?], and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. [Personal relationship with ME? Inner work? Discovering and doing My will?] Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (See “Which Church” post in labels below for greater explanation.)
3. Idea sparked when reading Michael S. Schneider’s, A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe: The Mathematical Archetypes of Nature, Art, and Science, p. 266. He wrote: “The seven-stage transformation of our elusive inner life, the goal of ancient seers, philosophers and initiates around the world, does not graft miraculous powers onto our familiar Self; it changes us from our core. After all, a butterfly is more than just a caterpillar with wings.”
4. For the truly repentant and obedient, Christ’s atonement cleanses all the transgression to which we are all susceptible.
5. Rule of Law: Ten to One: See http://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.ca/2013/11/rule-of-law-ten-to-one.html

A Coming Déjà Vu ?

I read about the calamities of former days, (as in these brief examples):

Would that I had raised my voice at that moment, that it might have saved me from the pain in which I am. … Woe is me because of the misery of this time! (Papyrus Ipuwer VI; Ancient Egypt) http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/texts/ipuwer.htm

A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God. (Old Testament Jeremiah 3:21)

… there was great mourning and howling and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them. And in one place they were heard to cry, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they would not have been burned in that great city Zarahemla. And in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then would our mothers and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared, and not have been buried up in that great city Moronihah. And thus were the howlings of the people great and terrible. (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 8:23-25)

I look around and listen to the news and views of today, and I cannot help but wonder if we are in for a latter déjà vu of the headline that might have graced every historical “Extra, Extra” had there been any capacity to print it:

Earth, wind/fire, water clipart from office.microsoft.com

Are we any different than former days? Why have we been asked to study Isaiah¹? To read the Book of Mormon? To apply those ancient texts to our day and lives²?

Is it because we, too, have:

▪ fallen in lust with the terrestrial?
▪ been seduced by The Three Temptations?
▪ been distracted by markets, commerce, and careerism?
▪ placed our faith in the visible in place of the invisible?
▪ been seduced by our senses and the sensible?
▪ lost consciousness of the esoteric, symbolic, and mysteries?
▪ followed “idols” (even spiritual ones), instead of the Spirit?
▪ lost our ability to distinguish true from false?
▪ treated traditions as if they were dogmatic truths?
▪ thought outward appearance was sufficient?
▪ acted as if service (of whatever kind³) was always superior to stillness? [Be still, and know that I am God: (Old Testament Psalms 46:10)]
▪ created God in our image?
▪ forgotten why we are here?

Brigham Young said all truth belongs to the gospel wherever it is found. Alma said God grants to all nations to teach His word⁴; so perhaps we should also be learning from additional prophetic voices outside the confines of our culture, traditions, and norms.

Let us not be afraid of honest, critical, and healing reflection. Let us not be afraid of following the Spirit if it says “No” to the expectations of others and their time-consuming agendas. Let us not be so conforming to the things of mere habit and custom. Let us not fall into the condemnation given to the Church at Ephesus.⁵

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1. Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 23:1 ~ AND now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah.
2. Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 11:8 ~ And now I write some of the words of Isaiah, that whoso of my people shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men. Now these are the words, and ye may liken them unto you and unto all men. Also 1 Nephi 19:24 ~ Wherefore I spake unto them, saying: Hear ye the words of the prophet [Isaiah], ye who are a remnant of the house of Israel, a branch who have been broken off; hear ye the words of the prophet, which were written unto all the house of Israel, and liken them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope as well as your brethren from whom ye have been broken off; for after this manner has the prophet written.
3. Including, all too frequently, the enormous time and energy sacrifices demanded of members for super-activities, cultural fêtes at temple dedications, camps, jamborees, galas, grand meals, elaborate ward/stake events/activities, extra meetings, fund-raisers, etc., etc., which take

▪ farmers from their fields during critical weather windows;
▪ parents from their children for days-on-end;
▪ everyone from scarce time for contemplation, pondering, meditation, reflection, study, and other forms of important or critical service;
▪ many from the real mission and purpose of their time and lives.

4. Book of Mormon, Alma 29:8 ~ For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.
5. New Testament Revelation 2:1-5 ~ UNTO the angel of the church of Ephesus write; … I know thy works, and thy labour [service?], and thy patience, … and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. [Personal relationship with ME? Inner work?] Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (See “Which Church” post in labels below for greater explanation.)

God’s Economy ~ Is it possible?

In a world and culture captivated by the faux-polarity¹ of Capitalism / Communism, what are one’s economic options?

from Office: Microsoft.com
 MC900299723

Our better natures seem to prefer giving the gift of self, time, and talent to improve the world. (See Daniel Pink’s, Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us.) Thus, various forms of giving have arisen to satisfy man’s “yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves.”

A few modern-day examples (of our better nature) are:

▪ Open-source software development
▪ Wikipedia contributors
▪ Free Apps by the tens of thousands
▪ YouTube sharing*
▪ Crowdfunding (like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Crowdfunder, RocketHub, Crowdrise, Somolend, etc.)
▪ A plethora of other “sharing” websites*
▪ Voluntary communes such as Mondragón²

And THIS:³

▪ http://sacred-economics.com/sacred-economics-chapter-16-transition-to-gift-economy/
▪  http://sacred-economics.com/sacred-economics-chapter-18-relearning-gift-culture/
▪ http://gift-economy.com/
▪ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_economy
▪ http://tommorkes.com/ (interview with Adrian Hoppel)
▪ http://wiki.gifteconomy.org/Main_Page
▪ http://www.tikkun.org/nextgen/the-gift-economy-a-model-for-collaborative-community
▪ Charles Eisenstein: A New Story of the People; TEDx ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjoxh4c2Dj0 )

A gift economy!! Is that the substance of Jesus’ teachings? Of the Zion way? A means to live in the world, but not of the world? A déjà vu from Enoch’s day?

Maybe there is no need for commune-living, or waiting upon authorities to lead the way, or wondering how to share what we love to do without “laboring for money.” Maybe we can actually begin to live Nephi’s advice:

… , the Lord God hath given a commandment 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 26:30-31)

Is this the way? where one by one, we take up the challenge to truly become One.

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Added June 18, 2014: Here is a newsworthy example of “giving” from the CBC News Online of June 18, 2014: “Tesla's Elon Musk proves why patents are passé” as he becomes “the latest hero of the open source movement. ... Last week, Musk gave away all the patents on Tesla's electric car technology, allowing anyone — including competitors — to use them.” The comment was:

Musk's generosity has already offered evidence that sharing patents may be a good idea. Nissan and BMW have told enquiring reporters that they would like to take Musk up on his offer, especially when it comes to Tesla's "Supercharger" method for fast battery recharges.<sup>4</sup>

*NOTE to some YouTubers and other onliners: A gift can be given by the creator or owner of something. If we appropriate or upload a creative work that is not ours without permission, it is NOT a gift; it is theft (whatever the motivation or attempted justification).

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1. What is our present corporate economic system, if not a type of Communism? 1) where HyPEs (Highly Paid Employees) manage the common assets/goods of shareholders for the supposed profit of those shareholders, but who in reality manage the common assets/goods and investments for HyPE profit and agenda; 2) where the elite prosper at the expense of “intended beneficiaries”; 3) where “competing” corporations circumvent supposed “free market” competition in every way imaginable; 4) where shareholders (except IPO shareholders) contribute NADA to the common venture, but who claim equal rights with IPOers to common gains; 5) where command & control is the order of the corporate day (each and every day); 6) where inalienable rights are deemed alienable (via mandatory contract); etc., etc.
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondrag%C3%B3n_Cooperative_Corporation
3. Sites referred to me by my sister. Thank you, BYS.
4. http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/tesla-s-elon-musk-proves-why-patents-are-pass%C3%A9-don-pittis-1.2678359?cmp=rss

Truth Be Told ! ?

“I worship at the altar of the free market.”

(Quote from Gerry Nicholls<sup>1</sup> at minute 9:50 on CBC “The Current”: episode titled, “What is the Future of Public Broadcasting in Canada?” broadcast May 14, 2014.<sup>2</sup>)

Staunch conservative Mr. Nicholls managed to condense into nine words, the “free-market” devotion of millions who have bought, hook-line-and-sinker, the idea that almost everything must “succeed or fail on the basis of the free market” (minute 6:30). A devotion that fails to acknowledge:

▪ the real facts and history of big business;
▪ the natural corruptions of the profit-motive;
▪ the truths obscured by “free-market” platitudes;
▪ real world manipulations, schemes, delusions, and persuasions (aided by communication consultants, like Mr. Nicholls); and
▪ the meaning and purpose of altars. Are they not intended for sacrifice? In Mr. Nicholls' case, sacrifice of what? Truth? Reality? Thoughful analysis?

Makes one wonder:

1) Could this worship of the “free-market” be related in any way to “that great Church”<sup>3</sup> that Book of Mormon Nephi warned us about?

And [the angel] said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth. (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 14:10)

2) Is this “free-market” worship, the kind of self-con included when Jesus said:

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted [to God’s economy], and I should heal them. (New Testament Matthew 13:14-15)

How long before we Christians recognize that the economic systems of capitalism AND communism are just opposing sides of the same corrupting, counterfeit coin of this worldly realm? and that there is a higher, better way?

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1. Gerry Nicholls is a communications consultant and former vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition (Canada’s largest organization for the defence of economic and political freedoms). See http://www.gerrynicholls.com/
2. http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/podcasts/current_20140514_13102.mp3
3. See also http://www.dejavu-times.blogspot.ca/2011/03/econ-009-church-of-laissez-faire.html
http://www.dejavu-times.blogspot.ca/search/label/Laissez-faire

Stumbling Along ?

“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”  (Søren Kierkegaard ~ 1813-1855)

In varying degrees, we are all guilty of this reality of “two ways to be fooled.” This reality kept coming to mind as I recently read and listened to a scholarly hypothesis<sup>1</sup> about the Bible as it relates to the Book of Mormon.

I confess to being both enlightened and questioning. If I am reading / hearing Daymon Smith right (which is by no means certain), he believes that tradition and metatexting have created a relationship between the two that should not exist.

The Book of Mormon states:

And after they [these things that proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew] go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away. And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men. … [and] because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them. (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 13:26-27, 29)

But despite these alleged losses and corruptions to the original word of God, I wonder two things:

1)  if Daymon Smith’s analysis will cause some to turn entirely away from the Bible because it fails to meet the criteria for being the book that Nephi calls the book of the Lamb of God? (1 Nephi 13:28, 38); and
2)  if this will cause us to stumble even more?

Here are a few reasons to proceed cautiously:

▪ If the Apocrypha still has value despite its problems,<sup>2</sup> why not the Bible, even when “plain and precious things” are missing?

▪ The Book of Mormon story begins, with its feet firmly set in the Bible landscape, and then makes continual reference to Bible characters and matters within Book of Mormon text. For example, word searches in the Book of Mormon reveal these number of relevant references:

Bible Characters referenced in Book of Mormon text	Bible Matters   referenced in Book of Mormon text
Adam (25)	Garden of Eden (5)
Eve (3)	Fruit of the tree ( / the Fall) (4)
Cain (3)	confounded the language (4)
Noah (3)	house of Israel (123)
Melchizedek (5)	tithes (8)
Abraham (29)	Sodom and Gomorrah (2)
Sarah (1)	land of Jerusalem (40)
Isaac (13)	Egypt (18)
Jacob (55)	Assyria (9)
Joseph of Egypt (33)	Babylon (11)
Moses (75)	Red Sea (13)
Solomon (6)	Law of Moses (43)
Zedekiah (7)	Sinai (3)
Isaiah (23)	sacrifice and burnt offerings (3)
Jeremiah (7)	desiring many wives and concubines like David & Solomon (3)
Malachi (2)	temple of Solomon (2)
(Apostle) John (3)	born of Mary (2)
Christ (381)	Jews (75)
Redeemer (41)	Gentiles (141)
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (10)	Sabbath (5)

Created with the HTML Table Generator

▪ The Lord, who knows past, present, and future, commanded us to study Isaiah<sup>3</sup>; and the Isaiah chapters, liberally quoted in the Book of Mormon, are markedly similar to those in the Bible, as are other Bible teachings and story references.

▪ As to Daymon’s strong objection to connecting the tower of Old Testament Genesis (11:1-9)<sup>4</sup> to the Book of Mormon tower references (Ether 1:3, 33), I would suggest that the following further references to “the great tower” are supportive of a connection:

Book of Mormon Omni 1: 22 ~ It [a large stone with engravings on it] also spake a few words concerning his [Coriantumr’s] fathers. And his first parents came out from the tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people; and the severity of the Lord fell upon them according to his judgments, which are just; and their bones lay scattered in the land northward.

Book of Mormon Mosiah 28:17 ~ Now after Mosiah had finished translating these records [24 gold plates ~ Mosiah 8:9; 28:11-18], behold, it gave an account of the people who were destroyed, from the time that they were destroyed back to the building of the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people and they were scattered abroad upon the face of all the earth, yea, and even from that time back until the creation of Adam.

Book of Mormon Helaman 6:27-28 ~ Yea, that same being who did plot with Cain, that if he would murder his brother Abel it should not be known unto the world. And he did plot with Cain and his followers from that time forth. And also it is that same being who put it into the hearts of the people to build a tower sufficiently high that they might get to heaven. And it was that same being who led on the people who came from that tower into this land; who spread the works of darkness and abominations over all the face of the land, until he dragged the people down to an entire destruction, and to an everlasting hell.

(Bold emphasis added in the above.)

▪ And though Daymon Smith may believe that other men’s “inspirations” and proddings were behind the Articles of Faith, including #8:

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. (Pearl of Great Price Articles of Faith 1:8);

as well as the “Joseph Smith Translation” of the Bible; yet the latter-day value of the Bible can perhaps be affirmed in this account from Joseph Smith’s history:

While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the [New Testament] Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible. At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to “ask of God,” concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture. (Pearl of Great Price JS-History 1:11-13)

Taking the same advice that Joseph Smith did, perhaps we can stumble a little less, if we don’t become too passionately attached to uncertain things before God fully reveals His mind, will, and words. Daymon Smith readily admits these are his ideas and theories. According to New Testament James 1:5, we can certainly ask questions and pursue possible answers, though, as usual, God responds in His “own due time.” (Scripture count for “own due time” = 23.)

As I see it, our job is to

seek learning, even by study and also by faith[,]
(Doctrine and Covenants Section 88:118; 109:7, 14)

which, in our human condition, seems to involve a lot of stumbling even when we have access to things that are

plain and pure, and most precious and easy to the understanding of all men.
(Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 14:23)

History and scripture seem but to witness one long déjà vu of stumbling and stumblers! So, let us thank God, for the promises of repentance and revelation.

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1. Daymon Smith’s, A Cultural History of the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1: Setting, a foundation, of stones to stumble over; see his website: http://daymonsmith.wordpress.com/
2. Doctrine and Covenants Section 91:1-6 ~ VERILY, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning the Apocrypha—There are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly; There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men. Verily, I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should be translated. Therefore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth; And whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom; And whoso receiveth not by the Spirit, cannot be benefited. Therefore it is not needful that it should be translated. Amen. (Bold emphasis added.)
3. Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 23:1 - 3 ~ AND now, behold, I [Jesus Christ] say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah. For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles. And all things that he spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake.
4. Old Testament Genesis 11:1-9 ~ AND the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. (Bold emphasis added.)

Reasonable or What ?

Here is a classic example of why “rational” is such a poor measure to judge another’s actions.

In a recent talk,<sup>1</sup> a man described his wife’s thoughts and action in jumping from a moving, 18-wheel semi while holding their first-born, infant son. The truck cab had suddenly filled with thick, choking smoke, and as her husband maneuvered the rig to a stop, she believed the engine was on fire. She feared the truck would explode, and that they would all die. And so, before the semi was quite stopped, she jumped out. When her husband exclaimed afterwards: “What, in the world, were you thinking? Do you know how dangerous that was? You could have been killed”; she replied: “I was just trying to save our son.”

Now, based on her beliefs and fears, what could be more “rational” than that?! What, in her mind (or ours, in like circumstance,) would be the least catastrophic (the most reasonable) of two possible actions:

1) stay put and die in a fiery blaze; or
2) leap with some risk of injury?

YET, at the conclusion of his story, the husband described his wife’s action as courageous, but “utterly irrational.”

Perhaps it was intended as humor, but I instantly bristled in sympathy with the poor wife who had, no doubt, endured retellings of “irrational action” for 40 years. And I exclaimed out loud and LOUD. “That was NOT irrational ! ! !

If someone knows the man, would they please read to him, a definition:

Rationality is the quality or state of being reasonable, based on facts or reason. Rationality is a normative concept that refers to the conformity of one's beliefs with one's reasons to believe, or of one's actions with one's reasons for action. … A rational decision is one that is not just reasoned, but is also optimal for achieving a goal or solving a problem.
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationality )

Maybe he could apologize to his wife, and maybe this can be a lesson to us all that:

▪ a wife’s rationality does not depend on what an observing husband thinks, knows, or believes (and vice versa);
▪ if we think someone is acting (or has acted) irrationally, perhaps we should get down off our “rational” horse and listen to their reasons (their POV), and realize
▪ what looks irrational may really be rational, even transrational, as in the words:

“The heart has its reasons which reason knows not.”

~ Blaise Pascal ~

“Faith consists in believing what reason cannot.”

~ Voltaire, The Works: Voltaire ~

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1. Video: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/what-are-you-thinking?lang=eng&media=video#watch=video (between minute: 00.16 and 03.06)
Audio: http://media2.ldscdn.org/assets/general-conference/april-2014-general-conference/2014-04-2080-elder-w-craig-zwick-64k-eng.mp3 (between minute: 00.16 and 03.06)