MORE SPENCER DRAMA

Sheesh, I tell ya.  This is ridiculous.  Russ just e-mailed me telling me that he knows several GAs and therefore he has the low-down on the inside track and that I need to cease and desist on the whole VOG thing.  I think Russ ought to look into Sarah Menet and maybe read a little Iohanni Wolfgramm.  I am sure he has not - I am sure I am the only one who has all three books and has read all three books and spent hours poring over their testimony to decide whether I should hold them close, or keep them at a distance.  Russ, even though you are my HT, I know which way I am rolling on this one.... :)

Here is my response to Russ - I thought it was worth publishing to see if I can make more copy.  Get yours while its still hot off the press.....

Russ,

Don't take it personally, I was just seeing how you would like it if someone who does not have jurisdiction over you were to repeatedly call you out on something.  It does get old of you to do this.  I am just glad that I pulled your last name out of the piece at the last minute..... :)  I am extremely patient, but sometimes I turn the tables on my accusers/harrassers - just for fun.  I am not gullible.  You obviously missed my piece near the beginning of the blog talking of how my wife and I felt years ago (2001), the need to relocate to the Flathead Valley in Montana.  As we entered the valley, I turned to my wife as we were driving and said, "If we choose to live in this valley, one day we will have to cross those mountains (pointing to Glacier National Park), and join the body of the Saints in Cardston."

It was one of those random things that just pops out of my mouth - and ends up coming 100% true.  Sols Guardisto described things just as they are today - and said the Spencer stuff would come to pass.  A prophet of the final dispensation put his stamp of approval on that experience.  The blog is full of experiences that I share to bolster and encourage other people in their spiritual pursuits.  One was the dream I had the night our third child died.  I boldly and openly declare that there is a need for revelation amongst the Saints - and that where you see a dearth of it, the people have lost their vision and are spiritually anemic.  Ripe for destruction or severe correction and culling, by God's standards.  This vision of Spencer's dovetails PERFECTLY with what my wife and I have seen in our own quest for our long-term planning and goals.  This is why I have embraced it.  I care not what spiritual experiences other have had or have not had.  If you fight me openly because you are found lacking in that department, then I am sorry for you and can give you some friendly advice, if asked.

I have read your points repeatedly - and the points have been taken - but we will have to agree to disagree.  I think there are two kinds of people in this world.  Those who hold positions of power which is usually accompanied by considerable wealth - and those who don't.  You will find that those who are a little "too comfortable" with the wealth or power that they possess will end up denying what is going on and will continue on as an ostrich with the proverbial head in the sand.  This is done because they have too much skin in the game, so to speak and they experience something called cognitive dissonance, so to speak.  They cannot see their 401K's flattened in economic chaos, their homes on the West Coast being swept away in giant waves after massive shakings of the earth, their beloved cars a heap of rust and moth corruption, their surviving family members crying out in despair for their other loved ones or starving because their parents were more concerned with buying the 51" bigscreen to watch the Superbowl on, than putting the cash into a respectable food store, lazily saying that they will just head over to their "paranoid", "gullible" and overzealous neighbor to mooch off of his prescient efforts.....

Then there are the others who are able to clearly see things as they are.  These most likely reject worldly power, instead opting for heavenly power and future returns on earthly actions, and are usually not men of means.  Most of the ancient prophets were of this genre.  Many found themselves living in caves, wearing burlap (modern term) as itchy as it is, eating locusts/honey or gleaning cobs of corn off the sides of roads as they traveled, passing along their message.  Many, but not all were stoned for what they had to say - but nearly 100% were rejected by society (of those who came among the people just before impending destruction).  Oh, there were exceptions to this rule, like Lehi and even Jonah, but the general rule holds sway.  These buck the worldly trends, and are not found amongst those who are desperately trying to stay abreast of them.

So, I have a yardstick that I measure people by.  I ask myself whether they are centered on worldly power and money. Money and power both have a way of blinding the recipient.   Most, having access to such things would not only pay a 100% tithe and generous offerings, but they would also live a consecrated life giving much of what they have to causes to better mankind and would never consume it upon their lusts, nor flaunt it to be seen of men.  One of my favorite examples of this kind of living was President Kimball.  He was a simple man and he lived simply.  One, who in the right circumstances might declare that "the [Son of Man] has no place to lay his head".  In other words, working out an existence by faith and going without purse nor scrip.

So, I do not care for the random name dropping that might excite others.  I care about content of character.  I have judged Sarah Menet, Iohanni and even Spencer (with what little I know of him) and I find no lack in any of them.  I find much lacking in their accusers, however.  This is not the final judgment I speak of, it is judging of one man to another in order to discern whom I should trust and follow.

Russ, you are a fine man - I do not short you for your excellent qualities.  But keep on keeping on and when I am prepared to trust your opinion over these three witnesses, I will let you know. 

Sincerely,

Iraq.

PS - I am getting read to teach the GD lesson on Noah next Sunday and have had three weeks a preparin'.  I plan on rocking the whiteboard with some fantastic doctrine

PSS - If it makes you feel any better, I am going to deliver a ppt presentation of this whole doom and gloom to about 30 members in the SL Valley in a few months.  I promise to stick mostly to doctrine and facts and data.  If you want to call me out to Bishop, feel free to request a copy of the presentation to show to him.  If there is something that contradicts doctrine in there, you are free to press him to ask for my recommend.....  No, seriously!