A WARNING TO A WICKED AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION

Folks, this is a re-post to an earlier occasion in 2008 when I was doing battle with some co-workers who were shredding me over my association with Mitt Romney (the Moron, as they used to call him)....  Now, I may not vote for him in the election - gotta say I am riding the fence to the last minute on this one - but I took exception to their blatant bias toward members of the Church.  Thankfully, I have left the group and do not have to deal with them.  I prayed a simple prayer and asked God to judge between me and these two individuals who took major exception with my beliefs.  Within a 14 month period, two people were dead and attitudes were right at about 180 degrees out from what they were before.  When you bear simple testimony, it is rebuffed and persecution if heaped upon your head, and you endure it to 7x70, then you simply ask God to take over.  And what a ride it is - He does not fail you.  The witness was clear.

In the case of Joseph, he was doing as he was commanded, and many people accused him of being the one that was not in the way.  The Saints were effectively tossed out of the US (at the time) and the US was judged for their "kindness" on our behalf.  The (first) Civil War was brutal and the people on the western front (Missouri) paid dearly for it (see my previous post on General Order #10).  We soon enter a phase, where our brethren are going to toss us out (socially) again over sexual perversion (gay marriage), calling us the freaks, and then we will have to witness another civil action so horrifying that most people witnessing it, asked that the scene be shut up from their view.  That will pave the way for the return of the 10 tribes and the purification of the future inhabitants of Zion in order that they will be ready to receive the Bridegroom.  The Saints will be forced to take a side in this brewing conflict.  If you have a wicked and adulterous spirit, you will choose wrongly - as so many are doing now in the Church.  Political correctness and pandering will send you into the wrong side of this battle:
  Here is my previous post:

A WICKED AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION

THIS IS A TOPIC THAT I HAVE BEEN RUMINATING ON FOR DECADES NOW. WHEN I WAS PREPARING FOR MY MISSION, I WAS READING THE BOOK "TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH" (TOPJS), AND I CAME ACROSS THE STORY THAT HE HAD WHILE PREACHING IN PHILADELPHIA, QUOTED HERE:

The Sign Seeker

Section Five 1842-43, p.278

When I was preaching in Philadelphia, a Quaker called out for a sign. I told him to be still. After the sermon, he again asked for a sign. I told the congregation the man was an adulterer; that a wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and that the Lord had said to me in a revelation, that any man who wanted a sign was an adulterous person. "It is true," cried one, "for I caught him in the very act," which the man afterwards confessed when he was baptized. (Feb. 9, 1843.) DHC 5:268.



I WAS IMPRESSED THAT JOSEPH SMITH HAD THE BOLDNESS TO CALL THIS DETRACTOR ON THE CARPET WHILE HE HAD NOT A SHRED OF PROOF (OTHER THAN A PRINCIPLE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT AS HIS GUIDE) THAT THE MAN WAS AN ADULTERER. ACCORDING TO JOSEPH SMITH, THIS IS A PRINCIPLE:

Section Four 1839-42, p.156

I will give you one of the Keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom. It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all eternity: That man who rises up to condemn other, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives. The principle is as correct as the one that Jesus put forth in saying that he who seeketh a sign is an adulterous person; and that principle is eternal, undeviating, and firm as the pillars of heaven; for whenever you see a man seeking after a sign, you may set it down that he is an adulterous man.



THE SAVIOR TOOK MANY OCCASIONS TO POINT OUT THAT THE BEHAVIOR OF THE WICKED PEOPLE (THAT EVENTUALLY PUT HIM TO DEATH) WAS GENERATED BY THE ACTIONS OF WICKED PEOPLE - SPECIFICALLY ADULTERY/SEXUAL SIN. PLEASE READ MATTHEW 12:39 TO SEE WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE SECRET SIN OF THE DAY:

38 ¶ Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

SO, EVEN THE QUEEN OF SHEBA WILL RISE UP IN CONDEMNATION AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF THAT DAY BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE GREATEST PERSON (EVEN A GOD) EVER TO WALK THE FACE OF THE EARTH. TRUTH IS MAGNETICALLY ATTRACTED TO TRUTH AND TRUTH REPELS ERROR. APPARENTLY, THERE IS A POLARIZING EFFECT TO SEXUAL SIN THAT CAUSES THE ERRANT PERSON TO BECOME BLIND AND CATEGORICALLY REJECT OBVIOUS TRUTH. THE SON OF GOD POINTED THAT OUT - AND IT IS A PRINCIPLE. JOSEPH SMITH DROVE THE POINT HOME IN HIS DISCOURSES AND I WENT ON MY MISSION EXPECTING TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE SIMILAR IN NATURE.

MY EXPERIENCE;
BRAZIL 1988:

I was a newly-made Zone Leader in Joao Pessoa and was working with Elder Christianson (an excellent artist and servant of God). We were teaching a young family (seven children) about the Joseph Smith story and the Spirit was there in spades. I then turned to the man of the house (cannot remember his name) and asked if he could believe the truth of our statements. He said he could not believe that God could talk to man. I then explained the workings of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and that what he was feeling was the Holy Spirit confirming truth to his soul. I knew that he was experiencing that as another scripture came to mind and bore witness to me:

Verily I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the Spirit of truth, doth he preach it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?
18 And if it be by some other way it is not of God.
19 And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?
20 If it be some other way it is not of God.
21 Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth?
22 Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.
23 And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.
24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

Knowing that they knew the truth, but that the mysterious repelling of truth was at work - just as with the man in Philadelphia, I, to the utter confusion and horror of my companion blurted out "What do you know about the law of chastisty?".

They seemed a little confused, so I asked them to open their scriptures to Matthew 12:39 and to read it (while my companion was kicking away at my leg). They read it and then I explained that they must be in violation of that law - otherwise they would know it and declare that Jesus is the Son of God and that he did indeed appear to Joseph Smith in the spring of 1820, as we were teaching it - and as the Holy Ghost was bearing firm witness. I boldly asked them if they had something they would like to share with us.

They both looked nervously at each other and then asked the kids to leave. I was thinking in my head "Now I've done it". The kids left and they quietly told us that they had been 'living in sin' and had all seven children without ever getting married. I was floored - but then proceeded to let them know that before they could receive a deep and abiding witness of the truths that we were teaching, they would have to get married and then we could proceed. We politely bid them a good evening and left with my companion letting me know his agitation over this.

I on the other hand, was more than satisfied in the principle and was able to use it later in another even more poignant occasion while on my mission.

BELEM, BRAZIL
DECEMBER 1989.

While Zone Leader in Belem, a largish city near the mouth of the Amazon River, we were out caroling in the city center park on Christmas Eve, knowing we didn't want to be proselytizing during family time.  It was the first time in "baptism land" that someone actually came up to me on the street, told me he had read the BOM and wanted to be baptized. It floored me. Sure enough, during the first discussion during the JS story (the Spirit was so thick you could cut it with a knife), his best friend burst in the door and told us that we were full of it. I observed the colors he was wearing (red and black - the colors of the d'evil and black magic down there) and told him that he was a wicked and adulterous young man, that he needed to repent and to sit down and shush until we were finished. I pushed bold to the limit - not knowing if his friend we were teaching would be offended to the point he would no longer hear us out. As is usual, the one who shreds is often not given the "prize" of reaping the love of the gospel and its given to another to complete the work. I was transferred within the week. Many months later as I was in the mission home preparing to come back to the States, I was walking through the lobby as the Elders from that city were passing around photos. I asked if I could take a peek. Both those young men were in whites for their baptism. The Lord is merciful - and I then ran into one of the American Elders who followed their progress and they both were serving missions while I was finishing up my degree at BYU. So, I agree, pandering has gotten people almost nowhere. If I sense that someone is not able to endure sound doctrine, I usually go for the jugular. You cannot imagine the amount of damage people like Tal Bachman have done in the Church. I got on a forum (apostate) he was on and just shredded. One of the worst things that has occurred in the LDS collective perception is that Jesus was a wus. He had amazing compassion and sympathy when people were in a repentant and humble spirit. When he sensed their intentions were evil - whoa!.

Last of all, some words from Orson Scott Card, that I have modified slightly - and live by and judge by:

HYPOCRISY BY THOSE WHO WANT TO CHANGE GOD’S COMMANDMENTS TO FIT THEIR OWN SELFISH WANTS

The teachings of the Lord are clear in regard to the way we must deal with sinners. Christ treated them with compassion -- as long as they confessed that their sin was a sin. Only when they attempted to pretend that their sin was righteousness did he harshly name them for what they were: fools, hypocrites, sinners. Hypocrites because they were unwilling to change their behavior and instead attempted to change the law to fit it; fools because they thought that deceiving an easily deceivable society would achieve the impossible goal of also deceiving God. These are they who are “kicking against the pricks” and “fighting against the Saints of God”. Joseph Smith taught that it is never enough to physically leave the body of the Church and then leave the Saints alone. You can leave the Church, but the Church never leaves you -- because immutable truth is just that, immutable. It will gnaw at you at every turn and every choice in life until you either bow the knee and confess Christ as your Savior or raise your fist to heaven and curse God and wish to die because of your defiance at the failing to give heed to saving laws and ordinances which can bring peace and lasting joy.

The Church has plenty of room for individuals who are struggling to overcome their temptation and bad behavior. But for the protection of the Saints and the good of the persons themselves, the Church has no room for those who, instead of repenting of gross sin, wish it to become an acceptable behavior in the society of the Saints. They are wolves in sheep's clothing, preaching meekness while attempting to devour the flock, or their families, etc.

No act of violence is ever appropriate to protect Christianity from those who would rob it of its meaning. None of us are without sin -- the casting of stones is not our duty or our privilege. All that must ever be done to answer them is to declare the truth, and to deny them the right to call themselves Latter-day Saints while proclaiming their false doctrine. Even as Christ freed from her accusers the woman taken in adultery, he told her, Go and sin no more.

Quote attributed to Orson Scott Card with modification by myself.