Brother Darren Andrews recently posted an excellent article titled, Waking Up to Secret Combinations: An LDS Perspective on Conspiracy. I would like to follow his observations with what should be our next step. When one awakens to the threat and the presence of secret combinations, the natural question arises, “How can we defeat them?” It’s intimidating to consider that our numbers are so few in the world, especially when the armies of the wicked have already infiltrated positions of authority and power in the secular kingdoms that surround the kingdom of God.
We are aware that there will be a time, as foretold in Daniel’s vision, recounted in chapter 7 of his prophecy, that the world will prevail over the kingdom of God for a time. Here’s what we know about that time. Daniel interpreted a dream-vision of King Nebuchadnezzar which showed procession of kingdoms: Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, Roman, and a loose confederation of the elements of the Roman Empire. The Restoration of the gospel and the establishment of the kingdom of God was foreordained to occur during the period of the “ten toes” or the ten kingdoms. There has been much speculation over the years as to the specific identity of these nations.
Some people pointed to the European Common Market which had ten member nations for some time. The EU expanded that number. I don’t concern myself particularly with those kinds of details, because we already know that the Restoration has occurred. The identities of the various empires are not particularly essential to know after the fact.
I mention this prophecy as a point of reference to which Daniel refers to repeatedly. After the Restoration of the kingdom, he wrote of a time when the kingdoms of the world would prevail against the saints and their kingdom. They will make war with the saints. This condition will remain until the Ancient of Days (Adam-Michael) and sits in judgment at the Council in Adam-ondi-Ahman. Joseph Smith taught that the Savior will appear at that gathering. That appearance is one of several appearances that constitute the Second Coming. Daniel wrote:
“20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”
We live in that period today, when the world is permitted to prevail against us. The Church moves forward, to fill the whole earth, but it does not do so without significant opposition. That opposition will increase. As we struggle to establish Zion among ourselves, Satan is in the process of establishing a false Zion. Both Zions promise peace, safety, an equitable redistribution of resources to care for the poor (by humbling the rich), and a paradisiacal earth. Only God’s Zion has the means to fulfill that promise while respecting man’s agency. Satan’s “Zion” involves compulsion and deception. One leads to joy and life, the other to sorrow and serfdom.
How can we abide the onslaught of principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places? (Ephesians 6:12) The Book of Mormon gives us the answer. There were times when the Nephites were successful at defeating secret combinations. It may be profitable to study one of those scenarios.
In 3 Nephi, chapters 3 through 5, we read of the conquest of Giddianhi, governor of the Gadianton band. At this point in their history, Giddianhi felt almost invincible. He wrote to the governor of the Nephites, Lachoneus, and demanded that he step down and surrender the kingdom. In that letter, there is a striking comment made by Giddianhi regarding the robbers. He said that the “works thereof I know to be good; and they are of ancient date and they have been handed down unto us.” The Gadianton robbers never considered themselves “robbers.” They considered themselves to be doing good, engaged in a noble cause. Giddianhi made his threats, alleging that it was because of the Nephites’ “wickedness in retaining from them their rights of government.” He intended “avenge their wrongs.” In other words, he sought “social justice” exactly as it is defined by the enemies of freedom today.
The initial reaction of the Nephites was to attack and destroy the threat before it came upon their homeland. This is understandable. It is the rationale that has been used for the better part of the past century to justify the wars the United States has been involved in. We have sought security by fighting wars on foreign soil to protect our own. The noble Gidgiddoni, commander of the Nephite armies, gave inspired counsel in regard to that course of action. In 3 Nephi, chapter 3 we read:
“19 Now it was the custom among all the Nephites to appoint for their chief captains, (save it were in their times of wickedness) some one that had the spirit of revelation and also prophecy; therefore, this Gidgiddoni was a great prophet among them, as also was the chief judge.
20 Now the people said unto Gidgiddoni: Pray unto the Lord, and let us go up upon the mountains and into the wilderness, that we may fall upon the robbers and destroy them in their own lands.
21 But Gidgiddoni saith unto them: The Lord forbid; for if we should go up against them the Lord would deliver us into their hands; therefore we will prepare ourselves in the center of our lands, and we will gather all our armies together, and we will not go against them, but we will wait till they shall come against us; therefore as the Lord liveth, if we do this he will deliver them into our hands.”
Gidgiddoni rejected the entire premise of “preemptive attack.” What was the inspired strategy of the righteous Gidgiddoni? A gathering!
A GATHERING
Should it be any different in our day? The Lord is gathering the righteous out from among the wicked. There have been phases to that gathering. The first phase gathered the saints to the valleys of the Rocky Mountains. In the last century, the second phase began. The Lord’s servants called for the saints to gather in their own lands and build up the Church among their people. Each stake established becomes an embassy of the kingdom of God established among the kingdoms of the earth. Will there be yet another phase in the gathering in the future? I suspect there will be. Heber C. Kimball said:
“Lay up your stores, and take your silks and fine things, and exchange them for grain and such things as you need, and the time will come when we will be obliged to depend upon our own resources; for the time is not far distant when the curtain will be dropped between us and the United States. When that time comes, brethren and sisters, you will wish you had commenced sooner to make your own clothing. I tell you, God requires us to go into home manufacture; and, prolong it as much as you like, you have got to do it.” –Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, 5:10
Doctrine and Covenants Section 45 also indicates a time will come when there must be a physical separation of the wicked and the righteous.
“68 And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety.
69 And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another.
70 And it shall be said among the wicked: Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot stand.
71 And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy.
72 And now I say unto you, keep these things from going abroad unto the world until it is expedient in me, that ye may accomplish this work in the eyes of the people, and in the eyes of your enemies, that they may not know your works until ye have accomplished the thing which I have commanded you;
73 That when they shall know it, that they may consider these things.
74 For when the Lord shall appear he shall be terrible unto them, that fear may seize upon them, and they shall stand afar off and tremble.
75 And all nations shall be afraid because of the terror of the Lord, and the power of his might. Even so. Amen.”
We cannot say if events will be driven by necessity (fleeing as refugees from war, civil unrest, etc.) or by a prophetic command from Church leaders. I suspect that it will be a combination of these. Nevertheless, a gathering of the saints into one place became a necessity for Gidgiddoni and Lachoneus to preserve the people. The text does not explicitly say so, but when the people gathered into one, perhaps they practiced some degree of the law consecration and had all things in common. That would have brought great blessings upon them and enabled them to survive at period of economic disruption and distress. Shortages could be resolved by sharing. Surpluses could alleviate need–each person willing to sacrifice for a godly common goal. They formed a “mini-Zion.”
PREPAREDNESS AND PRINCIPLES OF UNION
For decades, prophets have instructed us to prepare a supply of food, water, fuel, and a cash reserve for unforeseen eventualities. I believe those preparations, aside from just being prudent, common sense, may be required in some future time to preserve our independence and freedom. Lorenzo Snow said:
“The united order is like Noah’s ark. We should understand that the Lord has provided, when the days of trouble come upon the nations, a place for you and me, and we will be preserved as Noah was preserved, not in an ark, but we will be preserved by going into these principles of union by which we can accomplish the work of the Lord and surround ourselves with those things that will preserve us from the difficulties that are now coming upon the world, the judgments of the Lord.” (5 October 1900, CR, pp. 4-5.)
Let’s read more about the gathering that Gidgiddoni orchestrated as recounted in 3 Nephi, chapter 3:
“22 And it came to pass in the seventeenth year, in the latter end of the year, the proclamation of Lachoneus had gone forth throughout all the face of the land, and they had taken their horses, and their chariots, and their cattle, and all their flocks, and their herds, and their grain, and all their substance, and did march forth by thousands and by tens of thousands, until they had all gone forth to the place which had been appointed that they should gather themselves together, to defend themselves against their enemies.
23 And the land which was appointed was the land of Zarahemla, and the land which was between the land Zarahemla and the land Bountiful, yea, to the line which was between the land Bountiful and the land Desolation.
24 And there were a great many thousand people who were called Nephites, who did gather themselves together in this land. Now Lachoneus did cause that they should gather themselves together in the land southward, because of the great curse which was upon the land northward.”
SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL DEFENSE
The Nephites did not engage in an offensive military strategy, but fought a defensive war instead. They waited for their enemies to strike the first blow. Military strategists would find this foolish, but Gidgiddoni sought the Lord’s blessings first and foremost. He knew that loss of the protections of Providence would be more disadvantageous than making the first strike. The Nephites fortified their faith and refocused repentance, prayer, and personal righteousness. They strengthened their families. They did not become aggressive or militant toward their enemies. They were “extremely sorrowful” that they might have to slay another person to protect themselves and their families.
“25 And they did fortify themselves against their enemies; and they did dwell in one land, and in one body, and they did fear the words which had been spoken by Lachoneus, insomuch that they did repent of all their sins; and they did put up their prayers unto the Lord their God, that he would deliver them in the time that their enemies should come down against them to battle.
26 And they were exceedingly sorrowful because of their enemies. And Gidgiddoni did cause that they should make weapons of war of every kind, and they should be strong with armor, and with shields, and with bucklers, after the manner of his instruction.”
The Nephites prudently prepared the implements of war, all while praying for peace and deliverance. They made no offensive gestures of any kind–no war on terror “strategery” here. When their enemies came into the land, they found that attacking a united, gathered people was less convenient than picking off individual cities one by one. Their plans of conquest included pillaging and looting to sustain their forces. The Nephites had gathered their food and livestock into a single community. The robbers were not prepared to plant crops. They had to hunt for wild game and it eventually became scarce. When it came time for actual combat, the Nephites did not engage in “total war” to destroy their foes, but instead they engaged in harassing guerrilla tactics.
Consider for a moment, the type of warfare that the Afghani Mujahadeen fought against the Soviet army and won. The Russians, in their decade-long venture in Afghanistan killed over 2 million people–and they still lost the war! The Russians used atrocities like setting small explosive booby-traps out in toys for small children to find. The toys exploded maiming the children, blowing of fingers, blinding them, etc. There were also claims that the Russians used chemical weapons in their Afghan campaigns. Their intent was to break the will of the people to resist them. They lost the war because their opponents refused to surrender. The Mujahadeen refused to surrender because of their faith in God. Today, the United States foolishly thinks it can “nation-build” in Afghanistan and establish a New-World-Order-friendly government there. If there ever was a case-study of the failure of using telestial methods to solve telestial problems, Afghanistan would be it.
With that illustration in mind, consider now the tactics of the Nephites as being akin to those of the Mujahadeen. Day and night, harrassing attacks, fought from a defensive position, undermined morale and forced the Gadiantons’ captains to order a withdrawal. Gidgiddoni ordered that their retreat be cut off and they surrounded the robbers.
“21 And the Nephites were continually marching out by day and by night, and falling upon their armies, and cutting them off by thousands and by tens of thousands.
22 And thus it became the desire of the people of Zemnarihah to withdraw from their design, because of the great destruction which came upon them by night and by day.
23 And it came to pass that Zemnarihah did give command unto his people that they should withdraw themselves from the siege, and march into the furthermost parts of the land northward.
24 And now, Gidgiddoni being aware of their design, and knowing of their weakness because of the want of food, and the great slaughter which had been made among them, therefore he did send out his armies in the night-time, and did cut off the way of their retreat, and did place his armies in the way of their retreat.
25 And this did they do in the night-time, and got on their march beyond the robbers, so that on the morrow, when the robbers began their march, they were met by the armies of the Nephites both in their front and in their rear.
26 And the robbers who were on the south were also cut off in their places of retreat. And all these things were done by command of Gidgiddoni.”
When the robbers were forced to surrender, the Nephites spared many thousands of them and took them into custody. Those who continued to threaten the Nephites were slain. Their leader, Zemnarihah was executed. Continuing from 3 Nephi 4:
“27 And there were many thousands who did yield themselves up prisoners unto the Nephites, and the remainder of them were slain.
28 And their leader, Zemnarihah, was taken and hanged upon a tree, yea, even upon the top thereof until he was dead. And when they had hanged him until he was dead they did fell the tree to the earth, and did cry with a loud voice, saying:
29 May the Lord preserve his people in righteousness and in holiness of heart, that they may cause to be felled to the earth all who shall seek to slay them because of power and secret combinations, even as this man hath been felled to the earth.”
Note also that the Nephites weren’t liberal peaceniks. (Captain Moroni had already shown the way to deal with them in Alma 46:35) They weren’t the aggressors. The fight came to them. They simply practiced the art of defensive warfare.
PREACHING OF THE WORD RESCUES SOULS FROM GADIANTON’S BAND
The Nephites’ victory was dependent upon their faith, repentance, humility, and the willingness to follow prophetic counsel. In the aftermath, they gave thanks to God. They taught the gospel to the thousands of Gadianton prisoners. Those who repented and entered into a covenant were set free as changed men. From 3 Nephi, chapter 5:
“1 And now behold, there was not a living soul among all the people of the Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets who had spoken; for they knew that it must needs be that they must be fulfilled.
2 And they knew that it must be expedient that Christ had come, because of the many signs which had been given, according to the words of the prophets; and because of the things which had come to pass already they knew that it must needs be that all things should come to pass according to that which had been spoken.
3 Therefore they did forsake all their sins, and their abominations, and their whoredoms, and did serve God with all diligence day and night.
4 And now it came to pass that when they had taken all the robbers prisoners, insomuch that none did escape who were not slain, they did cast their prisoners into prison, and did cause the word of God to be preached unto them; and as many as would repent of their sins and enter into a covenant that they would murder no more were set at liberty.
5 But as many as there were who did not enter into a covenant, and who did still continue to have those secret murders in their hearts, yea, as many as were found breathing out threatenings against their brethren were condemned and punished according to the law.
6 And thus they did put an end to all those wicked, and secret, and abominable combinations, in the which there was so much wickedness, and so many murders committed.”
Here is a truly celestial solution. Instead of locking these prisoners away in a “Guantanamo” detention facility, they turned their prisons into seminaries of learning. The gospel touched the lives of those who had been their enemies. The light of Christ came into their lives and they were transformed by the Atonement. Those who were once bitter enemies found reconciliation. The hard cases–the impenitent–were executed out of necessity. It is the choice the Lord ultimately offers us, love and life or hate and death. Those who will forsake sin find forgiveness. Destruction ultimately awaits those who reject kindness and mercy when it is offered.
This is where telestial solutions will always fail. The gospel of Christ is what liberates men from the secret oaths of Gadianton. Can we expect modern Democrats and Republicans to implement such a solution? Can we expect a government that is hostile to prayer in school and posting the Ten Commandments on public property to succeed in destroying the threat of a godless secret combination? Will the false creeds and divided sects of Christianity find agreement sufficient to preach a unified gospel message to convert and save the souls of hardened enemies?
The Book of Mormon gives us this formula on how to overcome the efforts of secret combinations. It involves a gathering, preparing our homes, strengthening families, entering into “principles of union.” If we must resort to armed conflict, our actions must always remain defensive in nature and preaching the gospel can transform a hardened enemy. This is why I repeatedly return to the theme that telestial solutions will never conquer telestial challenges.
If the principles of liberty embodied in the U.S. Constitution are to be saved by the Elders of Israel, it will not be done according to the world’s methods and from within the corrupt political parties we see today. For this reason, partisanship among members of the Church is more harmful than we might imagine. The solution is not to be found on the Left or the Right. It is to be found by looking up to God and embracing a new paradigm.
Greg, great work, great post. I think whenever we and I include myself here, post, deep down we are trying to prove a point that we strongly believe whether it is true or not, based on the paradigm we see in the situation. There is no question in my mind that the solution is looking up to God and peace can ONLY be established by all people accepting and living the principles taught by the Savior.
However, there are realities that we must deal with also. I do not doubt that miracles will occur, they are occurring, but as times get tough, and these times are already upon us, civil war and tribal war and divisions of all kinds are going to be warring among us throughout the world and inside the United States. You rightly pointed out that Phase 2 of the gathering is well underway… “Beginning in the early 1900s, Church leaders encouraged Saints to remain in their own lands rather than gather to Utah. In 1911 Joseph F. Smith and his Counselors in the First Presidency issued this statement: “It is desirable that our people shall remain in their native lands and form congregations of a permanent character to aid in the work of proselyting.” James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. (1965–75), 4:222.
This phase 2 gathering doesn’t put the Saints in a situation that we can all gather into one place. Gidgiddoni, in your example, was able to gather his ARMIES into one place to protect the righteous. Before the Adam-Ondi-Ahman meeting we are gathered in Stakes as you point out, all over the world. We don’t have an Organized Army lead by the most righteous among us. In fact, Satan is in control of the most power Armies of the World including the most Powerful, the United States Army. (When i say “control” I mean of course the Political leaders). The Army that serves us, is the one likely to come upon us in the end. (I realize that we have an Army of 19 and 20 year old HALO trained missionaries, but I of course am referring to the temporal Army of God, not the spiritual. Moroni and Gidgiddoni and the like were warriors in the temporal sense that grew up with a sword and weapons of war and KNEW how to use them, with skills acquired.)
I believe strongly that we will move into civil unrest, and civil disobedience, and civil war here. By prophesy and by practicality. Free men and women continue to get their freedoms and liberties taken away and they aren’t going to take it forever. The spirit of freedom is woven too deeply in the fabric of too many people. I could easily point you to 500 blogs with followings of free people who are drawing their lines in the sand. It is going to get crazy. We see little things here and there starting to happen. Joe Stack is an example of many things to come. Men’s hearts failing them.
Anyway, my point is this, we are scattered all over the world in Stakes of Zion. We have no organized Army commanded by a Moroni or Gidgiddoni. Even if we did, where would they go, Utah? Brazil? Arizona? London? It won’t work that way. We must become self sufficient in skills like making clothes, hunting, gardening and such. We must, if possible, become less reliant on cities for our utilities, our water, our power. Note that the church itself is taking steps to make church houses self sufficient with power. We must be skilled with our modern day swords and cimeters. Examples of which we see in spades in the BOM, yet is little mentioned because peace is our preeminent goal. And all this must be done in smaller units of stakes and wards, and ultimately the most basic unit of the kingdom, Families.
If each family in Zion could have their own power and water and food. If each family in Zion were well trained in skills such as sewing, welding, gardening, hunting, fishing, woodworking, etc. Skills that have slowly been phased out and lost to most of us. If each family in Zion were well trained in rifles and battle strategy and communications from family to family and ward to ward. If each family in Zion, most importantly, were worthy of revelation in great degrees. If each family were at this point, I believe the revelation in D&C would be fullfilled…that people COULD “flee unto Zion for safety.”
But until then, is there safety in Zion and her stakes? Its going to take more than wheat and beans.
Thanks for the great comments. I know that each stake president has the keys for revelation for his own stake. Our leaders will tell us what to do and how to prepare. For what it’s worth, our stake president gave us a talk at a recent priesthood meeting where he included the following points on how to obtain priesthood power, not just priesthood authority. Some of the points were kind of surprising. Here are the notes I took.
1. Prayer
2. Perform gospel ordinances
3. Proclaim the gospel
4. Produce: food, goods, services. Create things, build things, fix things. Nephi made plates, built a ship, a city, and a temple.
5. Prepare to marry the right girl for eternity. Having children is of God. World’s trend toward small families is based in selfishness and of Satan.
6. Provide for families, loved ones and community. This is a matter of life and death.
7. Protect. Safeguard home and family from bad media, pornography, and other dangers. Keep contention, sin, and falsehood out. Have insurance and savings. Be able to take care of yourself. Young men should learn to debate, participate in sports like wrestling and shooting.
8. Physically fit. Don’t lose your health. Get out and exercise. Be a man for all seasons.
9. Patient. Patience is the greatest indicator of love.
10. Purity. We cannot be filthy men and have the power of the priesthood. Love not the things of the world Ask for the love of God with real intent.
11. Power. Depends on integrity, testimony, unfailing trust in God.
Latter-day saints are so fortunate to have inspired leaders. I am confident that the future is bright for us, despite the difficulties that are coming. I would love to hear the words of wisdom your local leaders are giving the saints in your area.
“Our leaders will tell us what to do…” That seems like a dangerous attitude to me.
I like this discussion, this is a very real situation. I’ve been reading gardening
books and looking into alternative energy sources. I was trying to figure all the
things I was going to need to power and things of that nature. I work in the
power plant building business, very interesting I might add, and the wind power
industry. I’m only twenty four years old but I’ve realized just how bad the power
crisis is in this country. My young convert wife has taken it as a personal challenge
to cook with dried food storage goods. I haven’t lived a model lds life but
I got my stuff together now. I tell you what it couldn’t have happened sooner.
It was almost instantly that I started to notice all these things after I was ordained
into the priesthood.( and living the right way) This country I believe will head
line every wrong and evil thing in this world here very soon. This makes
me terrified for my children and others childrens future. We need to heed
the Prophets words and directions as close to the letter as possible. We
need to educate ourselves formally and informally. We need to learn skilled
labour techniques, learn as much about everything we need to know about
taking care of our families and others families as well. Learn how wind and
water turbines work, learn how to diagnose and heal simple illnesses without
antibiotics. Learn what’s easy to grow for a sustainable food source in your
respective areas. Then learn how make it appetizing. Most importanly
stay worthy for our priesthood, if we can’t do that nothing will matter well
be just as lost as the adversary.
Disclaimer:
Sorry if all this is a GIANT runonsentance. I’m not a talented writer.
To RWW:
Don’t get the impression that Mormons are a bunch of mind-numbed robots. The occasional passionate disagreements you’ll find among us here shows that we are independent thinkers.
Nevertheless, those who are truly converted to the Restored gospel of Christ know that God has called prophets, seers, and revelators in our day. We can place great trust in their words and each one of us can seek independent confirmation of the truth of their teachings through the Holy Ghost.
Furthermore, each member who lives the gospel will have the gift of the Holy Ghost to help him or her apply the general teachings to their specific circumstances. My situation here in Virginia may require different application than someone in Utah where the Church is much more widespread and influential.
As Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 12:
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
The combination of living seers combined with members who are individually endowed with the gifts of the Holy Ghost is a powerful combination. However, if ever you encounter someone who says he is following the Spirit, yet is going contrary to the counsel of those who lead the Church, you can be assured that this individual is on the wrong path. If a man does not sustain his bishop or his stake president and is critical of them, that man doesn’t have the Spirit.
Don’t get the impression that Mormons are a bunch of mind-numbed robots.
I should clarify the fact that I am a faithful Mormon myself. Nevertheless, when someone reasons like a mind-numbed robot, I tend to jump to certain conclusions.
We can place great trust in their words and each one of us can seek independent confirmation of the truth of their teachings through the Holy Ghost.
I’m not sure I see the point, if their teachings are guaranteed perfect, as you seem to believe.
However, if ever you encounter someone who says he is following the Spirit, yet is going contrary to the counsel of those who lead the Church, you can be assured that this individual is on the wrong path.
I’m sorry to strongly disagree. The counsel of Church leaders has been demonstrably wrong from time to time; to hold it as infallible is incredibly dangerous. But this whole line of thought raises a question: What do you mean by “counsel”? That is, what parts of the speech of Church leaders are you taking as infallible, and what parts are possibly (or have been in the past) subject to human error? Or do you inquire of the Lord with regard to all of it as necessary, always receiving a confirmation? If this is the case, it seems that I have been instructed of the Spirit differently than you.
If a man does not sustain his bishop or his stake president and is critical of them, that man doesn’t have the Spirit.
Again, I fully disagree in principle — although as a rule of thumb, what you’ve said is usually true. The idea that the President of the Church could never lead you astray is questionable enough (especially given previous exhortations by none other than the President of the Church), but to extend that tradition down to a bishop or stake president is outright pernicious.
I am always amazed at the time I spend on LDS websites standing up for the General Authorities and urging people to sustain their file leaders. There is no dearth of statements such as these in the discourses and writings of those we sustain as prophets and seers.
Joseph Fielding Smith said in 1972 General Conference:
“There is one thing which we should have exceedingly clear in our minds. Neither the President of the Church, nor the First Presidency, nor the united voice of the First Presidency and the Twelve will ever lead the Saints astray or send forth counsel to the world that is contrary to the mind and will of the Lord.”
From Spencer W. Kimball:
“Apostasy usually begins with question and doubt and criticism. …
“They who garnish the sepulchres of the dead prophets begin now by stoning the living ones. They return to the pronouncements of the dead leaders and interpret them to be incompatible with present programs. They convince themselves that there are discrepancies between the practices of the deceased and the leaders of the present. … They allege love for the gospel and the Church but charge that leaders are a little ‘off the beam’! … Next they say that while the gospel and the Church are divine, the leaders are fallen. Up to this time it may be a passive thing, but now it becomes an active resistance, and frequently the blooming apostate begins to air his views and to crusade. … He now begins to expect persecution and adopts a martyr complex, and when finally excommunication comes he associates himself with other apostates to develop and strengthen cults. At this stage he is likely to claim revelation for himself, revelations from the Lord directing him in his interpretations and his actions. These manifestations are superior to anything from living leaders, he claims.”
Both of these citations come from the November 1994 Ensign article here:
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=641e3ff73058b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD#footnote1
We’ve seen some of that spirit manifested among some LDS patriots from time to time. That spirit is what is “outright pernicious.” On the subject of sustaining local leaders, President James E. Faust said:
We also need to support and sustain our local leaders, because they also have been “called and chosen.” Every member of this Church may receive counsel from a bishop or a branch president, a stake or a mission president, and the President of the Church and his associates. None of these brethren asked for his calling. None is perfect. Yet they are the servants of the Lord, called by Him through those entitled to inspiration. Those called, sustained, and set apart are entitled to our sustaining support.
“I have admired and respected every bishop I have ever had. I have tried not to question their guidance and have felt that in sustaining and following their counsel I was protected against the “sleight of men, and cunning craftiness.” 6 This was because each of these called and chosen leaders was entitled to the divine revelation that comes with the calling. Disrespect for ecclesiastical leaders has caused many to suffer spiritual weakening and downfall. We should look past any perceived imperfections, warts, or spots of the men called to preside over us, and uphold the office which they hold.”
If a person cannot sustain his bishop and stake president, how can he possibly sustain those who called them and committed sacred keys into their hands? When I was in the military, they use to tell us that “it’s the rank you salute, not the man.” The same goes for the local priesthood leaders. They aren’t perfect, but they hold sacred keys. If you follow their teachings, if for no other reason than out of respect for the keys, you will receive great blessings. If you disregard their counsel and encourage others to do so, you put up a wall between you and those who hold the keys.
I don’t know about you, but my inclination has been to stay close to those who hold the keys. That’s where there is safety. When I was a young elder, when fellow missionaries criticized the mission president, I encouraged them to have faith and to follow his leadership. When members have criticized the bishops in the various wards I’ve lived in, I gently encouraged them to trust in the bishop’s inspiration. That approach has been a blessing to me.
@ Greg West.
Great article – I thought is was well thought out and gave great direction in following the examples given in the Book of Mormon. Many of us are indeed concerned about the rampant corruption throughout the government and the abuses of those who work darkness in concert with others to fulfill their desires for power over others and to get gain. Those who have the spirit, are paying attention to the signs and realize that many of our leaders in government, have long since abandoned the principles of freedom that include a limited government and adherence to the constitution. We see the secret combination’s lust for power are growing bolder by the day, unto the trampling of the entire Bill of Rights, constitution and the repeat of the similar tyrannies perpetuated under the rule of England. Many feel like they should do something, but the examples given herein are perfect for those who follow Christ and obey the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
I especially like the advice to not seek pre-emptive war. It will be offensive enough that we believe in Christ and in freedom, that they will seek our overthrow. When we raise our voice high enough in opposition to tyranny they will come for us. Until that day, We can uphold the Constitution among ourselves and seek to preach to those whose ears will hear and continue to encourage constitutionally minded, liberty focused leaders to come forth out of obscurity. We need to encourage each other to stand fast in the teachings of the Gospel and prepare our defenses. While the voice of the people of this nation may eventually choose that which is evil, and will be ripened in iniquity, we have a right, privilege and duty to continue bringing the Book of Mormon forth to the world to show the world the consequences of forced obedience and the incorrect application of social justice through forced charity as written in the Book of Mormon. The Gaddiantons wanted to take that which was not theirs and wanted others to support them financially, according to their economy. This is not far different from the current government expansion and socialistic behaviors of both the current republican and democratic platforms. The republicans seek to maintain a growing empire of military might, endless wars and incessant meddling in foreign affairs under a pre-emptive war on terror. While the Democrats seek to steal the bread of the laborer to pay for those who won’t work. Both are complicit with the destruction of our money and our economy.
I am concerned that there are many of our Faith who seek to be commanded in all things, and have not the spirit of God to direct them. To those who are confused please go to the temple and contemplate these things. The spirit will let you know what you should do. It will guide you to do the things the Lord wants for you personally. Show up early for a session and sit in the temple chapel and read the last quarter of Alma and Helaman and the several first chapters of 3rd Nephi. You will not be disappointed by the lessons you will learn. If you feel you are not worthy, make yourself worthy and go.
Personally, I acknowledge that I am an imperfect man and make many mistakes. But I believe that if we are going to build up the kingdom of God then we must uphold the constitution and speak out for the liberty of others and only in doing so can we secure our own liberty. I encourage all faithful members of the Church to Re-read Alma 45 through 3rd Nephi. Understand the reasons the Lord wants you to know how the people of God prepared for war, understand what your obligations for liberty are. Understand that the war in Heaven was fought for the purpose of allowing people to be free and make their own choices vs a collective salvation through force. Recognize that this battle still wages on today. Prepare yourselves mentally, spiritually and physically to do as is written in Alma 48:10 and “support their liberty, their lands, their wives, and their children, and their peace, and that they might live unto the Lord their God, and that they might maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of Christians.”
Support the freedom of others by owning firearms and being trained in them. Attributed to George Washington, but disputed, the following quote still owns truth. “Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence. The church, the plow, the prairie wagon, and citizen’s firearms are indelibly related. From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and the pistol are equally indispensable. Every corner of this land knows firearms, and more than 99 99/100 percent of them by their silence indicate they are in safe and sane hands. The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference; they deserve a place with all that’s good. When firearms go all goes; we need them every hour.”
Become proficient in rifle, shotgun, and handgun. If you choose not to, then so be it, but if you will be faithful to your testimony, be prepared to lay prostrate on the ground praying to our Father when our enemies come upon you. Alma 24: 21
Ask yourself why there are so many examples given in the Book of Mormon about war? Why are there examples of two civilizations destroying each other? Why have we been given so much repeated council to prepare food storage? I am not advocating war, I am advocating peace. But there are those who will seek to destroy our liberty, our church, our beliefs and our families and if you don’t believe that I ask you to read the Book again and pray about its truthfulness. We will need to be prepared to defend ourselves when Satan buys his armies to rule with blood and horror. We will preach the saving Gospel of the Lord until those who cannot tolerate the light of truth. If you do not believe these things may come to pass, are you really studying the Book of Mormon well enough?
There is something far more powerful than guns and weapons and that is the very power and authority of the priesthood. If men are righteous enough and worthy enough, the priesthood of God will be enough to provide an escape from the enemies of God. We are still in a spiritual war for our very eternal souls and those of our brothers and sisters. Are you prepared to defend your families even unto bloodshed? Alma 43: 47. I am not talking about seeking war, I am talking about defending your freedom, your lands, your country, your rights and your families. Will you be ready to stand?
@RWW -Brother, I am indeed concerned for your testimony, your comments are reminiscent of Laman and Lemuel when following their visionary father, whose imperfections were readily apparent. Consider their impending apostacy through their complaining. Please understand that I hope you will reconsider some of your positions. I hope you will read President Bensons talk on pride and also the following talk by Elder Oaks and Elder Tanner.
Testimony
Dallin H. Oaks
It puzzles them that we can be united in following our leaders and yet independent in knowing for ourselves. We have a channel of governance through our prophet and other leaders.
“Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged”
N. Eldon Tanner
Almost invariably, we find that the greatest criticism of Church leaders and doctrine comes from those who are not doing their full duty, following the leaders, or living according to the teachings of the gospel.
I think the revelation is clear on the Apostles and Prophets. They will not lead the Church Members astray…OR they will will be removed. Let us not forget that last little bit. Lest we forget, Sidney Rigdon as an Apostle and counselor in the first presidency, led many astray, but then was removed. We have had many Apostles Excommunicated in the past (the most recent 21 years ago) and we are told that in the last days, even the very elect will be deceived. The elect I am sure would include the apostles. I think it would be arrogant to think that we will not have that situation in the future…it is always a red flag to me when people start saying, “it’s different now, that won’t happen to us now.” If an apostle or even the prophet was deceived next month, and was excommunicated, and became a fierce detractor, how many peoples testimony would be shaken…not mine.
As for the Local leaders, to Sustain, does not mean to believe every word that they say. It means to sustain them in righteousness. We live in a chaotic and difficult world, men struggle, many a Bishop and Stake President have pornography problems, many are excommunicated. It is very wise to pray for conformation on anything that you question. Much, if not 99.9% of the time, the spirit will confirm, but occasionally, the spirit will let you know that the counsel does not fit for your situation. Otherwise there would be no use for the spirit.
Most importantly is this, the leaders will usually give counsel in general for the general welfare of the flock. In the case of a prophet, he gives it for the whole church, in counsel like, don’t steal, stay away from pornography, get out of debt, get a food storage, etc. Not a lot of praying to be done on the prophet’s counsel. But if a faithful latter-day saint only follows this counsel, he will be letting the church and God down in drastic ways. Anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do MANY things of OWN FREEWILL AND CHOICE…comes to mind. The prophet will likely not come out and tell you to get enough food storage for 1 or 2 family’s more than your own, to provide for people who didn’t prepare, but I have been inspired to do so. I doubt we will hear from General Conference to teach our children to be proficient with a rifle and have a decent store of ammo for those who don’t prepare in this area, but I have. I would wager that Moroni was glad his father taught him to use a weapon proficiently. I have been inspired as a father to raise chickens, and rabbits, and put up some solar panels and a wind turbine. Sure is easier just to go to the grocery store butcher, and I do, but we need to follow inspiration. I don’t see the Prophet or a Stake President telling the congregations to identify people who will create a second amendment blog or foundation or a 10th amendment foundation, but if it is GOOD, it comes from God. And all things do not filter down from the Prophet. Many a good man has based their testimony on earthly leaders only to see them fall. Testimony should be based on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ only, he is will never fail us. Support and Sustain the leaders. Hope that you are not chosen, as Nephi, to go contrary to the revealed word and the revealed commandments. But the great compiler of the BOM saw our day and put stories in there like that because we would need to understand that principle.
So when I hear, JUST follow the prophet, I say it is Naive and Not what the Lord’s program is all about. This Religion is founded on Personal Revelation. Don’t JUST follow the leaders. Follow them for starters, that’s just the beginning, then have your life and the lives of others enriched by following the spirit of the Lord and be Anxiously Engaged in Many Good Causes. I think Freedom is a pretty safe one to fight for!
For what it is worth, the thoughts of a simple man working with the spirit as much as possible.
Semper Fidelis
Robert,
I certainly appreciate your sentiments and your actions in following inspiration and righteous motives. My chief concern is that I have found in many LDS “patriot” forums, the spirit of criticism of both the living prophet and the local leaders. I have seen men who have striven to become self-reliant and then modeled a spirit of contempt for their stake president or their bishop because they had not received the same inspiration.
They set themselves up as a light for others to follow, declaring that their local leaders are uninspired. They follow the path President Kimball described in the citation above, where they make themselves out to be martyrs and seek to draw people away from those who have the keys. They trust in guns, ammunition, and in their food storage. All these “preparations” will do them little good if they find themselves excommunicated for seeking to undermine those who are anointed by God to lead them.
No one in the Church is perfect, including the leaders. Yet even those who have weaknesses would give you the best counsel they can in the name of the Lord.
Years ago, when I first got on the preparedness “bandwagon,” our family befriended a couple who operated the Bishop’s Storehouse and the cannery. They said that sometimes militia groups and survivalists (non-LDS) came in to use the facility. When those groups were there, this couple said that you could feel the Lord’s Spirit depart. When they left, it came back.
Preparedness is important, but having the Spirit is also important. Those who find themselves at odds with their bishop or stake president place themselves in just as much danger as not heeding the counsel to store food.
I don’t see why this is such a hard concept to grasp and why there is so much resistance here to it. Is it so hard to sustain one’s stake president and bishop?
Bro. West,
I am a freedom loving father, ex marine, lover of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am a farmer, not a militia man. Don’t know where you got off the reservation there. I find the opposite to be true. I have never once in my 44 years seen an opposing hand when they sustain the church officers locally. However, beyond the people that I worked with in the Temple during my time as an ordinance worker and trainer, I don’t know a lot that rely on personal revelation for themselves or their family, beyond praying for lost keys when you really need to get to a PTA meeting. I see us running to church authorities with our problems rather than to the Lord. Most I know have no problem following the commandment, thou shalt not kill, but I haven’t met very many that have the personal revelation that Nephi enjoyed, because of his faith in the Lord, to receive the revelation to chop of the head of Laban, in opposition to the law. That is being in tune far beyond what most have achieved.
Your comment about the survivalists driving the spirit out of the room is a fallacious appeal to (non) authority and generalization. My wife’s brother’s sisters husband’s friend said he felt the spirit leave when a lawyer entered the room, does that mean all lawyers drive the spirit out?
To the point, I think a direct answer to your question is this. I had a mission president whom I and 100 other missionaries know that the Lord took him right in the middle of his mission. He was telling us how much better he was than visiting authorities because he was richer, he was giving bizarre revelations to many missionaries and strange spiritual advice. He was saying that visiting general authorities were less than he was because he had a Porsche and they didn’t. He said he would never be taken while serving as a Mission president because he was too important to the church. Well, he had a massive heart attack on a jog one morning right in the middle of his mission. I had a best friend who’s Dad was our stake president. He got excommunicated for adultery. Told me and his son that he hadn’t had the spirit in his life for 2 years while he was messing around with his secretary. Said he had stopped praying, the whole nine yards. That’s two years of advice and counsel to his stake hat was not based on the spirit.
So to my personal point. The ultimate purpose of revelation is to give the faithful the necessary guidance to obtain eternal salvation in the Celestial Kingdom of God. The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “Salvation cannot come without revelation.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 160.) He didn’t say salvation comes through following your local leaders. Not because their counsel is not good, of course their counsel is good. But I think section 58 says it well. “It is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all the things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; and he receiveth no reward. I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves . . . But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and, and receiveth a commandment with a doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.” (D&C 58:26–29.)
I point to key words like “agents unto themselves”, “power is within them”, “slothful and not wise” to be commanded in all things, “damned” for waiting to be commanded. The Stake President receives general info for the Stake… when he is under the spirit. Bishop the same for the Ward… when he is under the spirit. And Me for my family …when I am under the spirit! I don’t see a problem with sustaining, I certainly don’t have one, but your testimony and direction better be coming from the Lord directly if you want to attain salvation. I don’t think saying, I did everything my local leader said is going to do it at the pearly gates. And i don’t think following a local leader’s advice when he is not in the spirit and the spirit tells you otherwise is considered NOT sustaining him. It’s simply following the spirit, it’s the higher law if you are righteous enough.
I think my Bishop summed it up best when he said in giving me advice to an issue I was dealing with, “Robert, my advice to you is to pray for revelation and watch and see what the Lord does for you and your family. I can not get revelation for you, but I will pray that you get the inspiration you need to know what to do. It will be interesting to see what the Lord does…” Good Advice from a local leader, said in the spirit, directly in line with the Lord’s program of finding out for yourself.
Semper Fidelis
“There is one thing which we should have exceedingly clear in our minds. Neither the President of the Church, nor the First Presidency, nor the united voice of the First Presidency and the Twelve will ever lead the Saints astray or send forth counsel to the world that is contrary to the mind and will of the Lord.” — Joseph Fielding Smith, 1972 General Conference:
Here we have a great paradox. The so-called leaders of the LDS church will not lead us astray because God won’t let them. Yet, each and every one of us is endowed with Free Agency, which even God cannot violate. You all know this. And yet some of us actually believe men will not lead us astray.
Jesus Christ Himself said, in behalf of the Gods: We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, that as soon as they get a little bit of authority, as they may presume, that they immediately begin to exercise unrightous dominion over others. So we see that it is a well understood fact among the Gods that men in their natural state usually fall short of their potential. And yet, some people still believe that leaders of the LDS church will never lead us astray.
Not only can they, but they already have. The fact that most of you are unaware of this means that you have put your faith in the arm of flesh, and have become blind to anything but what you have been told in church. What does the BoM say about putting your faith in the arm of flesh? You all know what it says.
Now, what are you going to do about it?
Paul
@ Paul – i see your paradox and raise you religion.
The entire gospel is based on revelation. Personal revelation.
Nobody gains a testimony by anything but the whisperings of the spirit or direct revelation. We have all see members of the church who have based their lives on the testimony of others, but fall away when they lose the spirit.
I don’t have the reference with me right now, but didn’t Joseph Smith say he would have a hard time believing it if it hadn’t happened to him. Nephi struggled with Lehi’s decision to move until he had his own personal revelation.
I was born to parents who left the church and I would have too, if I didn’t have a personal manifestation of the spirit too strong to ever deny.
If anyone’s testimony is ever based on anything but learning directly from the Holy Ghost they are not building on a rock, but a sandy foundation.
I joined Front Sight Firearms training institute recently so that I will be trained to a higher standard in firearm skills. I hope that my feelings about the future are wrong, but when i read scriptures that talk about an organization making war with the saints, I don’t get an “all is well in Zion” feeling.
I don’t delight in bloodshed, but we are the salt of the earth, and if the salt lose its savor, then what? The lord will preserve us if we hearken to His counsel and trust not in the arm of flesh, but acknowledge him in all things, and He will direct our paths. Even relying on firearms is not a sufficient strategy, but If all men who ever lived were like Moroni… the very gates of hell would be shut forever. I tend to think that being willing and able to defend your liberties, rights of worship, your country and your family unto bloodshed is what the Lord would want.
Correct me if I have let go of the Rod
I agree with CBowen regarding his views about personal preparation. We know that someday, it will be up to us to defend our lives, our sacred honor, as well as our Lord. We must be prepared in every way. Spiritual preparation is at the top of the list. I’ve seen many good people be decieved over the years.
We must strengthen our resolve to stand firm about true principals and not be thrown off by distractions. Go to the temple often. That is where we are strengthened and given pure revelation. We need to keep a pure communication with our Father in Heaven by reading and knowing His word. We must do all the basics to keep a testimony always praying that we will keep on the straight and narrow path.
These times we know will “decieve the very elect” and we must be on our constant guard and awareness of ALL things. Personal revelation can only follow if we ask, seek and do our part. This is the Lords true church and we must always do all we can. We are all at different levels of testimony and we will be judged by our hearts and not our professions. All of you have good points but we are all only as mortals. Forgive and be forgiven is sooooo important but we must not be blinded. You are all good men it is easy to see. Secret combinations are rampant in our times but we must lean not only to our own understandings but seek to see “the bigger picture”.
I do not necessarily agree that we must always fight a defensive war. In fact, I find it almost impossible to do unless the leaders of the Church find a way to separate the righteous from the wicked so that the righteous could all be in one place, separate from the world. In that case we would be able, and probably commanded to fight only a defensive war. In the face of real world circumstances, war to keep ideologies that are against our Constitutional principles – such as Islam – must be kept from taking hold here in the Lord’s Promised Land.
However, the principles of preparation – preparing for bad times, laying in a years supply, preparing to defend yourself and your family – and the idea that each individual and his family should become as close to the Lord as possible are to be taken seriously. Each individual should prepare himself to meet his Creator and live as if each day might be his last day on earth – for reality is contained in this thought.
My mind just caught upon another possibility, if the Lord so wills it. If individuals change themselves enough – if they live the principles and values of the gospel, they will also live the values and principles, of individual liberties contained in the US Constitution – then maybe the majority of our nation can surround the conspirators (secret combinations) and cause them to leave this country or change their minds. The conspirators cannot take control if enough righteousness surrounds them. The conspirators are the few; the people who believe in the values and principles of right government are the many. We should surround those who would destroy true and right government and make them chose to convert or to leave the United States.
I am of the opinion that the Hand of Providence would be needed for the above to take place. I whole-heartedly support the idea of the people of America returning to worship of Jesus Christ who is the God of this Land.