IF THOU DOEST NOT WELL, SIN LIETH AT THE DOOR - CALLING GOOD. EVIL AND EVIL, GOOD

One of the more interesting things I found in my study of the wicked and adulterous generation is that there is a progression of things that seems to go as follows:

1) Get hung up on some point of doctrine
2) Get that wicked spirit about you (where you seek to counsel God's anointed - however mortal they may be)
3) Commit adultery (other forms of sexual sin qualify - if its not repented of)
4) Murder, etc

Read carefully what occurred in Cain's life. I had always surmised that he had somehow gotten tangled in some form of sexual sin to fit the standard pattern (and some people may skip some steps - but the end result is the same if they do "not well".... Sure enough, the Talmudic tradition states that Cain sought and had an adulterous affair with Abel's wife. There was more to the murder than just getting the physical property of Abel. It became much like what David went through - except, once warned (as they both were), one case ended in the ultimate badness - having walked and talked with the Lord previous to their fall. Here is the account - and read it carefully with an analytical mind. Draw the comparisons:

21 But unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not respect. Now Satan knew this, and it pleased him. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

22 And the Lord said unto Cain: Why art thou wroth? Why is thy countenance fallen?

23 If thou doest well, thou shalt be accepted. And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door, and Satan desireth to have thee; and except thou shalt hearken unto my commandments, I will deliver thee up, and it shall be unto thee according to his desire. And thou shalt rule over him;

24 For from this time forth thou shalt be the father of his lies; thou shalt be called Perdition; for thou wast also before the world.

25 And it shall be said in time to come—That these abominations were had from Cain; for he rejected the greater counsel which was had from God; and this is a cursing which I will put upon thee, except thou repent.

26 And Cain was wroth, and listened not any more to the voice of the Lord, neither to Abel, his brother, who walked in holiness before the Lord.

27 And Adam and his wife mourned before the Lord, because of Cain and his brethren.

28 And it came to pass that Cain took one of his brothers’ daughters to wife, and they loved Satan more than God.

29 And Satan said unto Cain: Swear unto me by thy throat, and if thou tell it thou shalt die; and swear thy brethren by their heads, and by the living God, that they tell it not; for if they tell it, they shall surely die; and this that thy father may not know it; and this day I will deliver thy brother Abel into thine hands.

30 And Satan sware unto Cain that he would do according to his commands. And all these things were done in secret.

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

32 And Cain went into the field, and Cain talked with Abel, his brother. And it came to pass that while they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and slew him.

Herein lies the problem.  In the Church, our numbers are approaching those of the world.  We are basically 5 years out of phase (behind) - but following the same primrose path to badness.  As we follow this path as a Church , there will be a huge amount of  Dr. Bennett(s) - of  Nauvoo fame.  The adulterous one who caused so much damage to the Church so many years ago.  These wicked and adulterous/fornicatious ones will become the stumbling blocks within the Church as we go thru this last sifting phase before the burning.

  This blog post originally posted in 2008.  Look where we are at right now........  Iraq