POSSIBLE REASON TO STAY OUT OF DEBT - BESIDES WE HAVE BEEN COMMANDED TO

This is a completely random thought that just popped into my head as I was driving home a few nights ago and zoned out on the issues of the day.

If the stuff on this blog is half-way believable (to you), and you have read most of it, you will know that there are ample evidences here that there will be an epic struggle on our own soil. That struggle will involve Chinese soldiers here along with several other nations - I happen to speculate here on humanitarian missions after our civil war and to "help" mop up after the ensuing grave geological disasters, etc that are soon upon us.

I also expect us at some time in the near future to not be able to shoulder even the interest payments on our debt (see the debt counter clock below...) probably right before the civil war due to our inflationary explosion. We increasingly owe the Chinese more and more in the way of debt that we will have to default on. I always say that if I owe someone some money and tell them I will not pay it back - and happen to leave the garage door open one night - there is a degree of right to that person coming over and cleaning my valuable tools out and selling them for what he can get for them to make that debt right.

For those who have debts that the Chinese will be saddled with, they will have the right to come and dispose of them/their assets in order to cover that debt - once we are in a vulnerable position where we have no other options. I stands to reason that this individual might be sent to a concentration camp of sorts to work that debt off. Truly becoming a slave for all of our decadent living - not unlike Limhi's people in the Book of Mormon. To me a random thought. To those of us who have lived fatly upon the land in excess and with wanton disregard for what is good and right, possibly a reality in our future......

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU (COLLECTIVELY SPEAKING) ARE STILL THE CHOSEN PEOPLE?

I work closely with a cherished friend who is Jewish, Elkanah Reuben. Because of him and some others I have the privilege of rubbing shoulders with, I enjoy my time when I am forced to be away from my family. We have wonderful conversations where we are able to share our common beliefs and, for the most part, we avoid differences in our beliefs about the Messiach or Messiah. We try to focus on the positive things we share and avoid the negative.

I will get right to the point of the blog topic. Elkan is Jewish and is committed to his beliefs and considers himself among the Chosen People of God. I am LDS (Mormon and committed to my beliefs) and I consider myself among the Chosen People of God. I say (from my perspective), that Elkan's ancestors (the Chosen People of God) lost their way around 400BC (Malachi was the last recorded prophet sent to them) and eventually were so apostate that they killed the Son of Man in 33AD as they could not interpret their scriptures (according to my perspective) to see what was really happening to them. They still retained their Priests, their Temples, even the authority that they always possessed, such that if a legal heir (descendant) of Aaron were to petition, in righteousness (and was baptized), he could become the leader of a congregation by fiat.

And so there is an interesting phenomenon here - we are on a collision course of beliefs and by using the same justification found in scripture, I find myself asking .

GLOBAL UPHEAVAL - BOTH POLITICALLY AND GEOLOGICALLY

Wow - this woman (Sols Guardisto) had some dire stuff to say, and with all the stuff that has been occurring lately with earthquake, tornado, and social strife in every quarter, I feel as if it could happen shortly (in the next 5-7 years). It has just been one bad thing after another:

I saw next international war break out with its center upon the Pacific Ocean, but sweeping and encircling the whole globe. I saw that the opposing forces were roughly divided by so-called Christianity on one side, and by the so-called followers of Mohammed and Buddha upon the other. I saw the great driving power within these so-called Christian Nations was the Great Apostasy in all its political, social, and religious aspects. I saw the world-wide dislocation and devastation of production and slaughter of people occur more swiftly and upon a larger scale than ever before. I saw an antagonism begin to express itself from those so-called Christian nations against your people. I saw those of a similar faith to yours in the Far East begin to look toward Palestine for safety.

I saw the international world war automatically break down, and national revolutions occur in every country and complete the work of chaos and desolation. I saw geological disturbances occur, which helped in this work as if it were intended to do so. I saw the Cardston Temple preserved from all this geological upheaval. I saw the international boundary line disappear as these two governments broke up and dissolved into chaos. I saw race rioting upon this American continent on a vast scale.

I saw hunger and starvation in this world granary of the American continent sweep off vast numbers of the conflicting elements. I saw disease produced by hunger, strife, and chaos complete the end of this present order or epoch…"

ORIGINAL WITNESSES TO THE BOOK OF MORMON

ORIGINAL INTERVIEW BY DAVID WHITMER - TRANSLATION OF THE SEALED PORTION OF THE BOOK OF MORMON.

Chicago Tribune

THE ANGEL IN THE PASTURE

After the translation was completed [Joseph] Smith, [Jr.], informed [Oliver] Cowdery, [David] Whitmer, and [Martin] Harris that the Lord had instructed him that the time was at hand when they should testify to all nations, tongues, and people concerning this work. These four Apostles of the Lord as they were designated, accordingly assembled in the public pasture, cleared of underbrush, at a point equally distant between two highways.

About the noonday hour they were seated on a log waiting for the promised manifestations, having previously knelt in prayer.

All at once the heavens appeared to open and there appeared a dazzling shaft of light beside which the light of the sun appeared dim.

Through this cleft in the sky, which seemed to lead away up to the pearly gates beyond, appeared an angel, disguised as a man, bearing the semblance of a table. The angel descended to the earth, landing nearly at their feet. On this table were the plates of gold from which they had just translated the Book of Mormon, and the plates of brass on which were inscribed the commandments written by Moses, and which had been taken from Jerusalem by Nephi 600 years before Christ and afterward transported to America.

The four Apostles were then commanded to go forth among men and preach religion as set down in the Book of Mormon. (Chicago Tribune, 15 Dec 1885)

Interview by Dr. P. Wilhelm Poulson

After a self introduction to David Whitmer and some general conversation, I remarked to him:

I - You are one of the Three Witnesses?
He - I am one of them.

I - And you saw the angel, and he showed you the plates?
He - The Book of Mormon is true, as true as any record can be, I saw the angel, and I saw the sword of Laban, and the breastplate, and the Urim and Thummim, and the plates and the director, and the angel stood before us, and he turned the leaves one by one.

I - Did the angel turn all the leaves before you as you looked on it?
He - No, not all, only that part of the book which was not sealed, and what there was sealed appeared as solid to my view as wood.

I - How many of the plates were sealed?
He - About half of the book was sealed. Those leaves which were not sealed, about the half of the first part of the book, were numerous, and the angel turned them over before our eyes. There is yet to be given a translation about Jared's people's doings and of Nephi, and many other records and books, which all has to be done, when the time comes.

I - How large were the plates?
He - About eight inches wide and six or seven inches long, as they appeared a little wider than long, and three rings kept the plates together; one above, one in the middle, and one below, so the angel could turn every leaf entirely over. The thickness was about of a common sheet of tin used by tinsmiths.

I - How did the engravings look?
He - There were characters. We copied some, and if you visit my brother John, one of the Eight Witnesses, who wrote for Joseph, John can show you some of the old manuscript which he borrowed from me. I must have it returned to me again, as it belongs to the Church, in connection with other records. As we were praying, the angel stood before us in his glory, and all things were before us on a table, and we heard the testimony about the plates, and we were commanded to bear that testimony to the world, and our testimony is true. And when the angel had finished his words, and shown us the plates one by one, which were to be translated, then the vision was closed at once, and exactly as it came even so did the sight disappear.

I - But these things which you saw were material things, how could they come and vanish away again?
He - It is the power of God. He does those things and his angels know how to do it. It was wonderful to us, but it was by the power of God. He had appointed his angels to be the guardians of the plates and other things, and the angel knew how it was done.

I - Did the Eight Witnesses not handle the plates as a material substance?
He - We did not, but they did, because of the faith of Joseph became so great that the angel, the guardian of the plates, gave the plates up to Joseph for a time, that those Eight Witnesses could see and handle them.

I - Did not Joseph, at an earlier period, have the full possession of those plates?
He - Yes, he did do in the commencement, but the persecution grew so hot that the angel took possession of the records, and showed those things, as he did, to Cowdery, Harris and me, and in the presence of Joseph, and afterwards he was allowed to show the plates to the Eight Witnesses.

I - Where are the plates now?
He - In a cave, where the angel has hidden them up till the time arrives when the plates, which are sealed,
shall be translated. God will yet raise up a mighty one, who shall do his work till it is finished and Jesus comes again.

I - Where is that cave?
He - In the state of New York.

I - In the Hill Cumorah?
He - No, but not far from that place. I saw the place where the plates were found, and a great many did so, and it awakened an excitement at the time, because the worst enemies of "Mormonism" stirred up the confusion by telling about the plates which Joseph found, and the "gold bible" which he was in possession of, so he was in constant danger of being robbed and killed.

I - How did the place look?
He - It was a stone box, and the stones looked to me as if they were cemented together. That was on the side of the hill, and a little down from the top.

I - How did you know Joseph to be at that time?
He - He was a very humble and meek man, and very simple, indeed. He did the will of the Lord, and an arduous task it was to translate the Book of Mormon.

I - Did Joseph use the Urim and Thummim when he translated?
He - The Urim and Thummim were two white stones, each of them cased in as spectacles are, in a kind of silver casing, but the bow between the stones was more heavy, and longer apart between the stones, than we usually find in spectacles. Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, Emma, and my brother John each at different times wrote for Joseph as he translated.

I - When will the temple be built at Independence?
He - Right after the great tribulation is over.

I - What do you mean by that?
He - A civil war more bloody and cruel than the rebellion. It will be a smashing up of this nation, about which time the second great work has to be done, a work like Joseph did, and the translation of the sealed plates, and peace all over.

I - Will you live and see those things?
He - It was said to us, that the second great work should commence when nearly all the witnesses to the first plates had passed away, so I may live and see those things take place. ("Dr. P. Wilhelm Poulson to editors of the Deseret News," 13 Aug 1878, Deseret News, 16 Aug 1878, p. 2. )

Interview by Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith

The fact is, it was just as though Joseph, Oliver and I were sitting just here on a log, when we were overshadowed by a light. It was not like the light of the sun nor like that of a fire, but more glorious and beautiful. It extended away round us, I cannot tell how far, but in the midst of this light about as far off as he sits (pointing to John C. Whitmer, sitting a few feet from him), there appeared as it were, a table with many records or plates upon it, besides the plates of the Book of Mormon, also the Sword of Laban, the Directors--i.e., the ball which Lehi had--and the Interpreters. I saw them just as plain as I see this bed (striking the bed beside him with his hand), and I heard the voice of the Lord, as distinctly as I ever heard anything in my life, declaring that the records of the plates of the Book of Mormon were translated by the gift and power of God. ("Report of Elders Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith," Millennial Star 40 (9 Dec 1878):771-7)

Interview by John Hart

Having some business in Richmond, Ray County, [Missouri] I took occasion to call upon Mr. David Whitmer, who was suffering considerably from the intense heat, but had, notwithstanding, a long and pleasant conversation with him and his son David Whitmer, Jr. After mutual introductions, I remarked that although I had no doubt of the truth of his published statement and testimony in the Book of Mormon, I should be pleased to hear the testimony from his own lips. He said, "Persons may attempt to describe the presentation of the plates as shown to himself and other witnesses, but there was a glory attending it that no one could describe, no human tongue could tell the glorious scenes that were presented to them. (Interview with John Hart, 23 Aug 1883)

Retelling by Orson Pratt

They, in no connection with Mr. Smith, who made the fourth individual, went out into the open field, near a grove of timber, a little distance from the house of Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca county, New York. They bowed down before the Lord in broad daylight - not in the night; so there could be no deception: they humbled themselves before him, called upon his holy name with all their hearts, and while they were thus engaged in calling upon the name of the Lord, they saw in the heavens above a glorious light, and a personage descending. This personage came down and stood before them: he laid his hands upon the head of David Whitmer as one of the three witnesses, and said, "Blessed be the Lord and they that keep his commandments;" and then he took the plates and turned them over, leaf after leaf, excepting a certain portion of the leaves that were sealed up, which Mr. Smith was not permitted to translate; but that portion he had translated was turned over, leaf after leaf, and presented before their eyes, and they saw the engravings upon the plates. (Orson Pratt, "Evidences of the Bible and Book of Mormon Compared," Journal of Discourses, vol. 7-8, 1860, pp. 29-30)



Testimony of the Three Witnesses


TESTIMONY OF THE THREE WITNESSES

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that we, through the grace of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, HAVE SEEN THE PLATES which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken, and we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, FOR HIS VOICE HATH DECLARED IT unto us; wherefore we know of a surety, that the work is true. And we also testify that we have SEEN THE ENGRAVINGS which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an ANGEL OF GOD CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that this is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ that we beheld and bear record that these things are true; and it is marvelous in our eyes, nevertheless, the VOICE OF THE LORD COMMANDED US THAT WE SHOULD BEAR RECORD OF IT; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
OLIVER COWDERY
DAVID WHITMER
MARTIN HARRIS

YOUR TESTIMONY - BY YOUR WORKS YE SHALL KNOW IT

Alot of people wonder how you go about developing a testimony of the truth. I have a favorite scripture that I quoted liberally while a missionary and trying to get people to catch the vision of God's work and the need to keep the commandments; "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine; whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself." So in order to obtain the knowledge of the truth of a doctrine (a testimony), you simply have to start by keeping the commandments - and then see what buds over time. But it takes prolonged diligence.....

I have my story and here it is - and it follows some very basic principles:

I have always had a simple faith. I have always just had a resonation within me when something was right. It felt comfortable - error and bad principle grates me which is why I will often blow some steam by way of my writings. There is MUCH error and bad principle out there.

That simple faith led to a belief when I read the works of our Savior and the greats like Moses and Joseph Smith. I just knew they were true and that these were good, just and holy men. I also came to the realization that the things they did (their works and miracles) were not out of reach of the average man/woman - otherwise, why publish them? It would be torturous - not much unlike sharing intimate details of married life to someone who is single - it would only do harm for them to know of that which they could not enjoy or achieve. The experiences were recorded because we could achieve them!! We do not have the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon and it is held back until after the purge as there NO WAY we could achieve those great principles of harmonious and Zion living in this telestial world. Not without the people conceiving of living like that - and then doing all in their power to bring it about.

So, as I examined myself, I knew that I could do the same things, so long as I maintained a humble attitude and as long as I would repent of my shortcomings - which are legion - and began to have the desire to exercise my priesthood in righteousness (women - this is your heritage, as well; I have stories from my mission). At one point around the age of twelve after listening to Conference and a talk by Neal A. Maxwell, I was wrought upon by the Holy Ghost to the point that I had no strength in my frame - just as Lehi did which propelled me further along this path. So the belief in Priesthood power was bolstered by some statements in my Patriarchal Blessing that I would be given opportunities to grow with experiences in the Priesthood - so I moved from a faith, to an assurance, to a burning desire to have the same assurances that all the greats had. This led to an attitude in a state of humility (God owes me nothing) that I could request and then expect miracles and blessings in my life. I could "argue the case" so to speak - and God would have to grant my desires in righteousness - much as the Brother of Jared was given them as his faith increased beyond a certain threshold. I began to have those experiences, line upon line, here a little, there a little until I would arrive at a fullness - or a sure knowledge of all things. This is how you obtain the great gift of the Second Comforter. I am not there yet - but I do desire that sweet communion - and I know I am far off from that pinnacle from what I understand of others' experiences.

Backing up a step, though - and to the point of this piece. I have not read a piece of scripture and said to myself "This could never happen to me.", except for one thing; which is commanding a mountain to "Be thou moved" - and having it done. Maybe that is a function of not seeing a need for it. I can conceive of everything else including having the power of resurrection - which all righteous Patriarchs from their respective lines on down from Adam will exercise on the Morning of the First Resurrection. I can conceive of (me doing it at some point in the future in a terrestrial state) moving from place to place at the speed of thought. I can conceive of raising a loved one from the dead (such as Lazarus was) and if you read a previous blog entry will know why that was a difficult reality for me. I can and have been an instrument in the Lord's hand to command a friend of mine through the instrumentality and power of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood to be made whole and free from cancer as the Spirit dictated. I have prophesied in the name of Jesus Christ. I can and have cast out devils in the name of Jesus Christ - which brings me to my point on the principle of a testimony. After a while, the reality of what is read about in scripture begins to become a reality in the life of those who have exercised faith from point to point until they begin to do the works that Jesus did. It then moves from faith to a working knowledge - and now my story which started this whole topic and ties it all together.

I was reading earlier tonight how Martin Harris could not witness the plates until he had repented of something that the Lord was not pleased with. After having secured forgiveness, he was able to then move forward with his righteous desire.

How do I know that is a true experience - and why do I ferociously rebuff my colleagues who attempt to paint that kind of stuff as the vain imaginations of a deluded mind? Because I have experienced it - or an identical experience that drove the exact principle home - which causes that experience by Martin Harris to resonate with me. I have never (to my knowledge) seen an angel - yet I know that Martin Harris did - because I experienced the same principle/event in my own life. I have the same kind of assurance that Martin Harris did as I do that the sun exists as I walk down the sidewalk on a glorious spring day and feel the sun radiating on my face and know its there.

While on my mission, I had the privilege of casting an evil spirit out of a woman of about 30 years of age. While engaged in that endeavor (there were six Elders there who each were given a shot at doing it as we could not clear the house of the influence due to pornography, alcohol and some other stuff). One Elder (a "Utah Mormon" who the previous week had confessed to me had binged alcohol and who knows what else at a party before embarking to Brazil in an unrepentant state), could not cast the evil spirit out of the woman due to that hanging over him. I had the privilege of commanding that evil entity to depart a second time. And it responded to the righteous and authorized command just as a car lurches forward as you press the accelerator. Simple faith - simple cause and effect. Moving from desire and hope to belief to plain and simple action then to sure knowledge.
The point being, you begin to have these experiences and you then read scripture or other non-canonical stories and begin to realize that your life begins to imitate art so to speak. Your life begins to become what you are reading. That is when you can begin to do great things and the Lord can no longer hold back the veil. This is not said in boasting - this is said pragmatically and factually and it follows a distinct pattern set forth in scripture.

So that is my testimony. Live your life with the desire to have those experiences and do not give ear to the faithless (in and out of the Church) who pervade your existence who say that those things were from a different time and for a different people, or who say, "it is different now". Those are the lies of the adversary who hates all that is good and right and virtuous.

Press forward until you have a sure knowledge from whatever point it is that you reside at right now and you will have fantastic experiences. One day you will meet your Savior - possibly while in the flesh if you live for it. I promise you that in the holy name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

PAYBACK THE LORD'S WAY - A GENERATION OF VIPERS SHALL NOT ESCAPE THE DAMNATIONS OF HELL

There are a lot of LDS folks who think that it was a tragedy how the early Saints were expelled from Nauvoo. While there was a lot of heart ache and misery and tragedy, I consider it far less tragic than what occurred in some of the areas and to some of the people that did the driving early on.

During the Civil War, the Lord exacted a tithing of sorts on those who remained in Babylon in that approx 10% of the males that remained out East were killed or maimed in that civil action. And much as the promise went for those who were sent to 'fight' in the Mexican American War in 1846, we (as a people) came off unscathed. In fact, those who did make it through the mobbings and scourgings and trials came out a much better people - so I say "Thank you very much, Boggs and company...". My ancestors were better off because of your vileness.

As for those who did the driving, I feel for you. You have to pay double - once here to relieve you of your ill-gotten worldly gains and once in the Spirit-pokey to pay for your complete lack of morals and character and for following after the children of hell that led you into the mess you found yourselves in. I have always been astounded to find that it was the pastors and spiritual leaders who were often at the head of the mobs rallying everyone. You would think they would have been crying for moderation or cooler heads to prevail. But they were out there making their adherents into twice the children of hell they were. GOOD JOB folks..... But then, the M.O. is the same as that used in Christ's day.

So what has gotten me spun up? My wife is subbing for Seminary tomorrow and called me and asked me what I knew about Order No. 10 (and the subsequent General Order #11). Most brain-dead members and non-members who just watch sports for a living would know everything about the "Border War" between the Jayhawks and Ol' Mizzou - but what they may not realize is that there is some history there and that "ol' Joe Smith" uttered a few prophetic words in that regard previous to their troubles in the Civil War. This is what he said:

The excerpt below is taken from B. H. Roberts, New Witnesses for God , Vol. 1, p.298:

The following prophetic incident is given upon the authority of Mr. Leonidas M. Lawson, now of New York City, formerly a resident of Clay county, Missouri, and a brother-in-law of General Doniphan. "In the year 1863," says Mr. Lawson, "I visited General A. W. Doniphan at his home in Liberty, Clay county, Missouri. This was soon after the [Civil War] devastation of Jackson county, Missouri under what is known as 'Order No. 11.' This devastation was complete. Farms were everywhere destroyed, and the farm houses were burned. During this visit General Doniphan related the following historical facts and personal incidents." Then follows in Mr. Lawson's account a recital of the treatment meted out to the Saints in Missouri from the time of their first arrival in 1831, to their expulsion, including recitals of the personal relations of General Doniphan and Joseph Smith, including the following incident which occurred during the Prophet's imprisonment in Liberty jail: "On one occasion General Doniphan caused the sheriff of the county to bring Joseph Smith from the prison to his law office, for the purpose of consultation about his defense. During Smith's presence in the office, a resident of Jackson county, Missouri, came in for the purpose of paying a fee which was due by him to the firm of Doniphan & Baldwin, and offered in payment a tract of land in Jackson county. "Doniphan told him that his partner, Mr. Baldwin, was absent at the moment, but as soon as he had an opportunity he would consult him and decide about the matter. When the Jackson county man retired, Joseph Smith, who had overheard the conversation, addressed General Doniphan about as follows: "'Doniphan, I advise you not to take that Jackson county land in payment of the debt. God's wrath hangs over Jackson county. God's people have been ruthlessly driven from it, and you will live to see the day when it will be visited by fire and sword. The Lord of Hosts will sweep it with the besom of destruction. The fields and farms and houses will be destroyed, and only the chimneys will be left to mark the desolation.' "General Doniphan said to me that the devastation of Jackson county forcibly reminded him of this remarkable prediction of the Mormon Prophet. . . . In a letter from Mr. A. Saxey of Spanish Fork, Utah to Mr. Junius Wells treating further of the fulfillment of this prophecy, so well attested, Mr. Saxey under date of August 25, 1902 says:

"In the spring of 1862 my regiment went south, and it was during that time that "Order No. 11" was issued, but I was back there again in 1864, during the Price raid, and saw the condition of the country. The duty of executing the order was committed to Colossians W. R. Penick's regiment, and there is no doubt but that he carried it into effect, from the howl the copperhead papers made at the time. I went down the Blue river, we found houses, barns, outbuildings, nearly all burned down, and nothing left standing but the chimneys which had, according to the fashion of the time, been built on the outside of the buildings. I remember very well that the country looked a veritable desolation."

So, when trouble is heaped upon you by the wicked that you are surrounded by, take heart (but do not glory in their tragedy - just in the power of God's word), because the Lord is sure and true and will back you if you are.

Payback is a beast - here is some more:

The following account is a portion of a manuscript written by Quantrill's Lieutenant, William H. Gregg after the war.

Gregg, a fierce fighter, was also very accomplished writer. The following is an excerpt from "A Little Dab of History Without Embellishment".

"...About the 18th of February, 1863 Col. Bill Penick stationed a Independence whose men were part Missourians and part Kansans sent a scout of about seventy five men sixteen miles south of Independence to the houses of Col. Jim Saunders and Uncle Jeptha Crawford, the scout arriving at the house of Saunders first, divided, one half going to Crawford's.

Mrs. Saunders and her daughter prepared dinner for the half staying there, the Col. furnished feed for their horses, all went well until dinner was over, ( mind you that the snow was fourteen inches deep with the mercury 10 degrees below zero when Col. Saunders was placed under guard, the house burned, the women not allowed a bonnet or shawl. On leaving Saunders place, they told the wife they were going to take Col. to Independence and make him take the oath.

On the arrival of this party at Crawford's practically the same scenes were enacted, except they snatched a lace cap from the head of Mrs. Crawford and they threw it in the flames of the burning building, they also told Mrs. Crawford that the men would not be hurt. On their way to Independence arriving at the house of James Burris, they dismounted Crawford and Saunders and shot them to death.

It was such dastardly acts as the forgoing that caused the raid on Lawrence..."

Here is a little more:

Bingham was in the epicenter of Kansas City, Missouri at the time of the issuance and execution of Order 11 and personally witnessed the carnage - where he accordingly describing the events:

"It is well-known that men were shot down in the very act of obeying the order, and their wagons and effects seized by their murderers. Large trains of wagons, extending over the prairies for miles in length, and moving Kansasward, were freighted with every description of household furniture and wearing apparel belonging to the exiled inhabitants. Dense columns of smoke arising in every direction marked the conflagrations of dwellings, many of the evidences of which are yet to be seen in the remains of seared and blackened chimneys, standing as melancholy monuments of a ruthless military despotism which spared neither age, sex, character, nor condition. There was neither aid nor protection afforded to the banished inhabitants by the heartless authority which expelled them from their rightful possessions. They crowded by hundreds upon the banks of the Missouri River, and were indebted to the charity of benevolent steamboat conductors for transportation to places of safety where friendly aid could be extended to them without danger to those who ventured to contribute it."

Thereupon after witnessing the attrocity and previously appealing to Ewing; Bingham set out on his masterpiece of historical importance. With the simple words of "It will be adequate", Bingham brushed the famous painting "Order Number 11."

Kansans were angry over Quantrill's Lawreence raid that was pay back for the September 23, 1861 massacre and burning of Osceola. Ewing's order came from radical Senator James Lane to lead a jayhawking raid through Missouri that would destroy more than four Missouri counties. On September 9, 1863, Lane gathered nearly a thousand Kansans at Paola, Kansas, and marched towards Westport, Missouri, with an eye towards destruction of that town. Ewing also sent several companies of his old Eleventh Kansas to help Lane's advance. For whatever reason, Lane Stopped that attack.

Ewing ordered his troops to engage in looting and other depredations, and the jayhawkers were simply nothing short of barbarous and savage. Most were Kansas volunteers who regarded all Missourians as "rebels" to be punished. Animals and farm property were stolen or destroyed; houses, barns and outbuildings burned to the ground. The four counties became a devastated "no-man's-land", with only charred chimneys and burnt stubble showing where homes and thriving communities had once stood.

Ewing's order was allowed to stand, and Schofield would later describe it as "wise and just; in fact, a necessity."

For the ages and future generations to see, George Caleb Bingham painted a masterpiece of Ewing's evil and cruel war crime. Legendary guerrilla Frank James commented upon seeing the painting, "This is a picture that speaks."



In this famous work General Thomas Ewing is seated on a horse watching the Red Legs destroy the innocent people of Missouri..

The historical painting, which is centered around General Ewing, complete with his "red legs", is a scene that no human should have ever endured. The painting depicts the horror, tragedy, suffering, death & destruction of innocent Missourians who General Ewing demonically terrorized.

This painting is one of the most stirring and haunting works ever laid to canvas. It shows the extreme means in which the innocent men, women and children of Missouri were treated by such scoundrels as General Ewing.

And so you have the blueprint for the next great Civil War to occur shortly on our soil. This one will not be county against county but will be, as the Savior said, Mother against daughter, etc where it is an individual thing brought about by the breakup of the family and the moral fabric of society. There is a thin veneer of civility indeed that keeps us cohesive as a people. When that thin veneer and what little of the Spirit of the Lord remains in this people has evaporated under the withering sun of poverty and lost hope, it will be wrenching even for the strongest people to endure. Only those who possess a Zion spirit will be strong enough to stand - and then only in groups bound together in love and necessity.

THE SATTIRE IS FANTASTIC - THE TRUTH CUTTING

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did. I have never laughed so hard over something so serious. VERY educational!

Will you be a slave or fight the beast and rage against the machine. Let's return to Constitutional principle. We are the last nation in the earth that has any hope unless we abandon good principle.

Here is the LINK.

AYN RAND - A RAGING ATHEIST WHO WAS PROPHETIC

This blog is not to be about movie reviews, but this one does document the decline of America. Ayn Rand who authored "Atlas Shrugged" was from a communist country and was an atheistic (she spouts the korihorean brand of religion and I am sure is enjoying some nice R&R in the spirit pokey to cool her heels) philosopher who extolled the free market but predicted that socialism would strangle the free market due to greed and other forces of human nature. We are there now with Obama's hellish agenda that mirrors principles of the devil rather than God's and the founding Fathers'.

I recommend that you either read the 1000 page book - or go see the series of movies (the first of which apparently is out right now): ATLAS SHRUGGED TRAILER

May heaven help us all as our country hangs perilously in the balance!

HOW DO YOU RATE? MIGHTIER THAN A CRICKET?

I think this is all correct. All creatures, even the very stones and atoms vibrate resonate in a complete praise to their Creator and giver of life and light who is our Savior. May our hearts be full of praise to Him as we contemplate the greatest one to walk this earth - who voluntarily gave his life in the most cruel manner in order that we might praise him for ever more in eternal courts on high. May we start here by singing just a little louder and with more energy in our services on Sunday and in the sincerity of our prayers that raise up to perfect ears.

This was put together by my former mission companion, Elder Christenson: LINK

I hope you enjoy and take the time to listen to the entire track. It has a way of completely setting my mind at ease - much like the sound of crickets pulsing at night.

JOSEPH SMITH'S LAST DREAM IN CARTHAGE JAIL

Joseph Smith was a man of visions and dreams and truly bore his namesake's (Joseph of Egypt) legacy well. He truly was a direct descendant of that line. I am not aware of any other person (that at least has recorded it) who has excelled at this gift more than Joseph Smith. And while he was mocked and scorned for that gift, I aspire to the same gift and would be satisfied to have just a crumb of what he possessed for myself.

I have enjoyed stunning dreams that have predicted down to the most minute detail, things of the future including very mundane things related to work and relationships. I have been quite shy on the visions detail, but that will come over time and if there is a divine need for it in my life. I will share more of these remarkable dreams over time - not in a manner of boasting - but as encouragement to others to seek after their gift. In being silent about these remarkable manifestations (unless we are expressly forbidden to share them with the world), we do the devil's work in that God's glory is not manifest and that gift or the seeking for the gift is not encouraged among other budding in the gifts of the Spirit. I have a wonderful little 8 yr old girl who has watched me try (poorly, I might say) to exercise my non-gift for piano playing. In seeing me, she has been encouraged to hop on the bench and start plunking. In her plunking, my wife and I recognized a fluidity in her motion and an ear for tone that most kids do not have. We, instead of discouraging her, and telling her that she must only play that when no one else is around for fear of embarrassment, have encouraged and praised her openly and she has blossomed (with some good piano teachers) into a great little pianist whom I think will go far with her gift. So it is with spiritual gifts - they are suppressed in the church with such zeal that there is little incentive to even try. Gifts of healing the same - and I cite some of the trials that Iohani Wolfgramm went through as he exercised that fantastic gift (which I have also been given). Not to be critical here, but people are not shown how to exercise that gift properly - and a few of those that have done it have been swatted down for it by people, quite frankly, who are faithless and who will find themselves on the left hand as the corrupt teachers they have been who made their adherents into twice the children of hell that they were - in the final analysis. The proud and wicked and hypocritical can't take being shown up by the weak and the unlearned - it drives them mad with jealousy - a type of rage that is only documented in those who dealt with Jesus, Abinadi and Nephi among others. I have felt it among the wicked around me who have begun to find out what I stand for - and increasingly so, among those in the church. In the Church, it is mild to moderate now, but it will increase with time as disparity grows in the membership. It will get to the point, that if Jesus were to appear incognito, the general membership would vote to put the radical (from their perspective) to death again. To illustrate my point, here is Joseph's last dream the night before he was murdered. I will not narrate it - I leave it to you to decide for yourselves what the interpretation is, but remember what he told Emma when she sent a runner for him after he had crossed the Mississippi River to head to the Rocky Mountains the night before he was taken into custody. Also, remember the Book of Mormon was written for (to shred) us (the general membership of the Church) and not the Catholics or Protestants or some other group that may never have the pleasure of reading it:

Joseph related the following dream which he had last night:

"I was back in Kirtland, Ohio, and thought I would take a walk out by myself, and view my old farm, which I found grown up with weeds and brambles, and altogether bearing evidence of neglect and want of culture. I went into the barn, which I found without floor or doors, with the weather-boarding off, and was altogether in keeping with the farm.

"While I viewed the desolation around me, and was contemplating how it might be recovered from the curse upon it, there came rushing into the barn a company of furious men, who commenced to pick a quarrel with me.

"The leader of the party ordered me to leave the barn and farm, stating it was none of mine, and that I must give up all hope of ever possessing it.

"I told him the farm was given me by the Church, and although I had not had any use of it for some time back, still I had not sold it, and according to. righteous principles it belonged to me or the Church.

"He then grew furious and began to rail upon me, and threaten me, and said it never did belong to me nor to the Church.

"I then told him that I did not think it worth contending about, that I had no desire to live upon it in its present state, and if he thought he had a better right I would not quarrel with him about it but leave; but my assurance that I would not trouble him at present did not seem to satisfy him, as he seemed determined to quarrel with me, and threatened me with the destruction of my body.

"While he was thus engaged, pouring out his bitter words upon me, a rabble rushed in and nearly filled the barn, drew out their knives, and began to quarrel among themselves for the premises, and for a moment forgot me, at which time I took the opportunity to walk out of the barn about up to my ankles in mud.

"When I was a little distance from the barn, I heard them screeching and screaming in a very distressed manner, as it appeared they had engaged in a general fight with their knives. While they were thus engaged, the dream or vision ended."

Both Joseph and Hyrum bore a faithful testimony to the Latter-day work, and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and prophesied of the triumph of the Gospel over all the earth, exhorting the brethren present to faithfulness and persevering diligence in proclaiming the Gospel, building up the Temple, and performing all the duties connected with our holy religion.

Sobering - really quite sobering, from my perspective anyway.