PASSION OR RANT?

Love this quote:

INTERVIEW ON WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO CLEAN SWAMP (1999)

Good stuff - this guy called it long before it got really bad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-uTEIHqTuk

I talked to a Canadian guy in the Cardston Temple yesterday and he is one more person who is worried that they will try and take Trump out - for not playing ball and "getting along' in the NWO sandbox.

THE ILLUMINATI:

https://youtu.be/QG4En6tWeOQ?t=480

It is time to take the trash to the curb.  And they will not go easily.

THE FAILURE MAKES HIS LAST BIG GAFFE

Russians are being thrown to the curb:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCu0ArxVj1g

Yep - make the problem, blame someone else and maybe get a war and a continuation of your failed 'administration' in the process.

Only 20 more days.......  THREE...... MORE..... WEEKS.......

Agggghhhh......

LOSER COMMENT

So, I got a clearly ex-Mo comment on the blog about the slowing growth rate of the Church.

I want to address this right now.  This is a time where there is a massive sifting in the Church.  It has been prophesied from the beginning.  IE; wheat/tares/chaff.  This happens right before the fire - where the field is cleansed prior to a new beginning of a new planting season.  It is part of the deal.  If people are too dense to not be able to figure out that they are either on one side of that equation or the other - then, they have spiritually de-selected themselves from a glorious opportunity to thrust themselves into the Millennial awesomeness that is coming.

I persist day to day, simply because I want to be PART of that awesomeness - and not part of the fire and the tree that has NEITHER root nor branch - because of not passing the "de-selection" process that the Savior outlined in Matthew.  I want to raise my departed son in that felicity - and enjoy grand kids from my other children who qualify for those blessings.  That is what drives me day to day - and to repent when I need to.

So - let me address this snide comment on the Daniel stone that rolls forth to fill the earth......(and that is supposedly not the LDS who will do it):

After the fire and the purging, those that survive will be those who are of a terrestrial order, or higher (who live a Consecrated Life).  Others who refuse, simply will end up fighting other telestial people to the death, just as the Nephites and Lamanites did after they fell from their lofty Terrestrial/Consecrated perch.  They will self-extinguish, if the plagues, the fire, the seas heaving and so much else do not take them.  Those that remain will be those who great tens or hundreds of millions of our brethren who were led north in 721BC and at other times.  There may be billions.  There will be maybe a billion or so who are not LDS who are honorable and good people who, like the Jews who remain in Jerusalem, will figure out where the "true vine" is - and will largely join with God's people.  The "LDS" church will shortly (within a few decades), number in the billions.

So, for the shill out there - I would probably shut my mouth and work on getting your crap together.  The day comes when those who have not figured it out will have no more "second chances".

Just sayin'.....

Rant off.  Charity back on.....

RECEIVING THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST - THE KEY TO NOT FALLING

I have talked about this extensively - and have received it.  This is the First Comforter - an Elias of sorts, sent to prepare the way for the real prize in this life: the Second Comforter.

Maybe one day - over time - this will become a reality.  You have to want something with all your heart in order to be blessed with it.  In order to want something with all your heart - it has to consume you.  My wife and I recently had our early married vids put to DVD, which included our wedding day video.  I can truly say that I wanted to be married to my wife with all my being.  You can see my excitement - it was beyond palpable.  We both had waited so long for that perfect moment.

So should it be - for this gift we all should be seeking.  It is a marriage - of sorts.  But a much more important marriage.

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yeb3ta9iwscw0uz/Podcast%20008.pdf?dl=0

There is text there, as well as a podcast for those who like to listen while they drive. Here is the podcast - and I had to open it on Firefox - Interrednet Exploded did not work for me; as usual....:

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/mstroud/episodes/2016-03-23T12_22_29-07_00

He has an analytical mind and basically goes to the root cause of why the membership of the Church is failing - people are not becoming converted.  The Gospel and it's dissemination is much like ato  fishing expedition for tuna - you cast the net and pull all sorts of stuff out of the ocean.  Much of it comes up in the net - but little of it is what you were seeking.  The true fish - so to speak.  I have experienced this in my own family clan.  Some who came from highly dysfunctional situations - but liked the structure and safety that the gospel provided - maybe fueled by the nice music, but did not have the spiritual stamina or constitution necessary to plod on, so they fell by the wayside.  Some were choked out by the weeds of sin or the cares of the world early on.  Some simply have a stony heart (and the seed fell on stony ground) and did not even take to begin with.  Some just need care and watering and are in a drought.  When the rains come, their withered stalks will receive nourishment and will bud and blossom out.  I still hold out hope for some.  For others, I hold little hope.  It is interesting to watch from a distance.

The secret here is to never give up - never.  Just keep plodding and desiring in faith, until you arrive at that point.

PUTIN CALLS OUT THE WEST FOR BEING DEGENERATE

I cannot say how sad this is - a leader of a former communistic nation calling out the former light on the hill nation...... and our allies in the degenerate west.

Had Putin been as gay as obummer is with a tranny wife, the Russians would have stormed the palace and strung him up.  He is a real man - and points out real men to those around him; and degenerates when he sees them.  How embarrassing for us.....

Thankfully, we have had a Triumph, politically speaking and we have a (highly imperfect) real man in the Whitehouse once again that we have not seen since the days of Reagan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wDW_3FGAQY

Putin is also highly imperfect - but he does NOT teach/promote principles in direct violation of those given in scripture.

WO UNTO THEM THAT CALL GOOD EVIL, AND EVIL GOOD

Great are the words of Isaiah:

 18 Wo unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope;

 19 That say: Let him make speed, hasten his work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it.

 20 Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

 21 Wo unto the wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight!

 22 Wo unto the mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink;

 23 Who justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

 24 Therefore, as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, their root shall be rottenness, and their blossoms shall go up as dust; because they have cast away the law of the Lord of Hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

 25 Therefore, is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them; and the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

 26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth; and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly; none shall be weary nor stumble among them.

 27 None shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken;

 28 Whose arrows shall be sharp, and all their bows bent, and their horses’ hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind, their roaring like a lion.

 29 They shall roar like young lions; yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry away safe, and none shall deliver.

 

The people today are still smitten and driven, because they still refuse to call upon the name of the Lord.  Soon - very soon - the nation of Israel will be smitten completely because she refuses to bow the knee and confess that Jesus is the Lord.  She will, as a nation, finally come to an understanding - but it will be at a cost.  A dear cost.  How much easier would it have been to come to the conclusion the easy way - than to discover it after years of pain and suffering, that will bring them to the same conclusion anyway?

 

George Michael of Wham 1980's fame died recently at 53.  Apparently the cause of his demise was due to the partying and hedonistic lifestyle he had chosen.  I wondered if it would not be due to a perforated colon or some other cause along those lines - like the demise of some of the BeeGees of the same genre.  He was a raging homosexual - like most people who attain fame.  Part of the "try it before you buy it crowd"..... who slide and then keep sliding down that slippery slope until they reach a new low of depravity - while declaring that they are the "enlightened" ones.  George Michael's gay partner back in the 80's died of AIDS - and he never got the message about abstinence, followed by fidelity within marriage to someone of the opposite sex, so that the purposes of this creation would not be frustrated (thus the first commandment).

 

So, we have an entire generation who refuse to call on the name of the Son of God forevermore and declare Him their Savior - because they are "too wise" for such foolishness.  And so, they will be delivered over to the buffetings of the adversary and his hellish minions until they finally reach out and confess that the ways of light and truth are good and holy - instead of the delusions of a brainwashed mind.  When they reach out and call on the name of Jesus for salvation - then and only then, will they be pulled back from their tortuous path.  Indeed, many would say it is a smackdown - but it is not.  We agreed to this plan long before we came to this earth - we all knew we would need a Savior in order to live as beings of light - that our sin accumulated in the search for truth and wisdom and experience - would keep us from that place of light and pure truth.  We accepted our Savior - and that plan.  The endowment clearly teaches this - and that the alternative to it, is darkness and the absence of light and goodness.  The only way out of that darkness is Jesus Christ - because He overcame all things.  Any other path is foolishness - but these things are kept hidden from the "wise and prudent" who are "puffed up in their pride":

 

 39 O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.

 40 O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken.

 41 O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.

 42 And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.

 43 But the things of the wise and the prudent shall be hid from them forever—yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints.

 44 O, my beloved brethren, remember my words. Behold, I take off my garments, and I shake them before you; I pray the God of my salvation that he view me with his all-searching eye; wherefore, ye shall know at the last day, when all men shall be judged of their works, that the God of Israel did witness that I shook your iniquities from my soul, and that I stand with brightness before him, and am rid of your blood.

 45 O, my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins; shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the rock of your salvation.

 46 Prepare your souls for that glorious day when justice shall be administered unto the righteous, even the day of judgment, that ye may not shrink with awful fear; that ye may not remember your awful guilt in perfectness, and be constrained to exclaim: Holy, holy are thy judgments, O Lord God Almighty—but I know my guilt; I transgressed thy law, and my transgressions are mine; and the devil hath obtained me, that I am a prey to his awful misery.

 47 But behold, my brethren, is it expedient that I should awake you to an awful reality of these things? Would I harrow up your souls if your minds were pure? Would I be plain unto you according to the plainness of the truth if ye were freed from sin?

 48 Behold, if ye were holy I would speak unto you of holiness; but as ye are not holy, and ye look upon me as a teacher, it must needs be expedient that I teach you the consequences of sin.

 49 Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart delighteth in righteousness; and I will praise the holy name of my God.

THOSE WHO LOVE THE TRUTH

In the Bible vids (click link) that I was watching, they took the narrative from the Gospel of John.

36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

 

I have always been amazed at those around me who take the truth to be hard - or who call good evil, and evil good.  Truly, I think we come pre-packaged with a propensity to love what is right, or to take to that which is evil.  We either take to things of light, or we fight against it.  You really cannot just sit on the fence and remain neutral in this fight.  You either end up going one way - or the other.  Just as light and darkness are mutually exclusive.

MY VERSION OF EVENTS

We got this new tv and surround sound system - and it is great to watch stuff on.  You can find the LDS channel on Youtube and watch ALL of the NT vids without having to re-load each one.  It is a great way to take a nap while hearing the word of the Lord.  The amount of effort put into those vids is amazing.  They are exceptional.

I have heard a few things that I had not heard before.  My favorite was a quote of the Savior saying, in a new way, that His sheep will hear his voice and they will respond to it.  Those that are not His, will not hear it.  It will not ring true.  I was talking with someone about this phenomenon - and I told them that I have come to the conclusion that it basically boils down to a repentant spirit - and the keeping of the Law of Chastity.  Abuse of that law keeps one from hearing the whisper and call to follow the Good Shepherd.

I have talked about this several times - but Jesus was crucified not ON Golgotha, but AT Golgotha.  It was done along a Roman road that followed the man-made valley at the food of the escarpment, carved out when the walls of the Judean fortress did not fully compass the whole of Mt. Moriah.  Golgotha (place of the skull) is still visible today about 100 feet to the right of the escarpment, and the tomb is about 200 feet the other direction along the escarpment.  The "Hill of Calvary" is above the escarpment.  It is a hike to get up there - but the people were "wagging their heads as they passed by" precisely because they were walking along a Roman road.  Not going for a random hike.

Here is the account from Mark:

21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

 22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

 23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

 24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

 25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

 26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, The King of the Jews.

 27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

 28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

 29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,

 30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

 31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

 32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

 33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

 35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.

 36 And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.

 37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

 38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

 39 ¶And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

 40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

 41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

 42 ¶And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

 43 Joseph of Arimathæa, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

 44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

 45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

 46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

The crucifixion occurred on Friday, April 3rd, 33AD (Passover Friday, prior to the Sabbath) - and the reason I know this is that I have run the lunar calculator and found that there was a total lunar eclipse during those afternoon hours precisely over that part of the world.  I was checking it out to see the correlation to the timing of the death of my son on that same day.

If you care to research Ron Wyatt, he said the blood was spilled right above the place where they buried the Ark of the Covenant - and His blood sprinkled onto that holy seat.

The big thing this Christmas season, is that He was born in a remarkable manner, lived in a remarkable manner and died and was raised in a remarkable manner, that ALL may live, if they but look up.

 

 

 

 

PUTIN CALLS OUT DEMS AS SORE LOSERS.....

This is why I like this guy:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-putin-trump-idUSKBN14C0WE?il=0

Remember that Russia has rarely ever attacked another country other than to create a buffer for their own country after a spate of aggression brought the bear to life.  They are about to do the same again.

SICKO FILMS HER OWN ABORTION

Wow - her last name is Letts (as in blood"lett"ing)......

Now, the depraved left is trying to glamorize what is morally depraved - and billed as a right of the woman.  How far we have fallen as a people (collectively).


http://www.lifenews.com/2014/05/06/woman-who-videos-her-abortion-calls-process-of-killing-her-unborn-baby-birth-like/


It is amazing that every person that finally comes out of their delusion says that the act of aborting a baby was "emotionally devastating" - or something along those lines.  Yet, at the time, they have self-lied to the point that they actually called it "liberating".  Amazing what time and wisdom will do for most people - except the most depraved.

This depravity only goes so far - and then those chickens come home to roost.  Hopefully, Trump will make a statement that helps reverse this national sickness (just as Putin has done in his country).

We either turn this around on our own - or someone else does the heavy lifting.....

NEW WORLD CURRENCY BY 2018

Some large event could happen in 2017 and they will roll this into place.....

Could old Georgy Peorgy Sr. have been setting the stage way back then?

http://dcnewsman.blogspot.gr/2014/08/1988-economist-cover-get-ready-for.html

I think so.  And watch the video with the guy talking about conspiracy theories that suddenly morph into conspiracy facts when it is evident over time.  They are methodical and patient in their plans.  And their disinformation is nearly perfect - but not perfect enough to get hitlery elected.....

OH COME O COME THOU EMMANUEL

A Woodzone Christmas classic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPfdD3pBUig


With that coming will bring so much hope.  Hope for a release from our individual captivities, release from the grips of death and release from the world of sin around us.

Come, Lord Jesus!

WIKILEAKS JUST DROPPED A BOATLOAD OF DAMNING EVIDENCE

This is the shot across the bow to the "elites" - that if they screw around with the electoral college and try to put their pieces of excrement with legs in power over the one who was duly elected - their world will change.....  Check mate.....

THIS is how you play the game - wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove.

One wrong move and we get all the photos of podesta and his fellow molestas - a mountain of damning e-mails (probably the illegally deleted ones) and so much else.

We are in the final stretch, folks.  One bad move - one key player taken out - it all comes out in a torrent.  There is a dead-man's key associated with this encrypted release.  If there are shenanigans - the encryption key is released and it is game over for the freaks out there.  Man, I CANNOT wait.  I would prefer to see Trump in it for the duration - but I especially would like to see just how bad these pukes are.  Proof - and satisfaction.

This is the ultimate brinkmanship - the gads have met their match.  May God brood over and protect those who have brought the gads to their knees.  THIS is the moment that we have been waiting for for almost 50 years - maybe well over a hundred since they began to maneuver to steal and sap our nation's strength away.

God bless Trump - oh, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all - including any libtards that may be reading.  We are celebrating the birth and life of Christ.  Get over it.

You can have your big day on May Day or whatever you want to celebrate.  As for the 90% of the rest of the sane and rational Americans, we would like to enjoy our season without guilt and political correctness!

MY TALK WRITTEN THE HOURS AFTER I FOUND OUT ABOUT MY DAD'S PASSING

Christmas can be a humdinger!  First, Dallin our "baby Jesus" passing away, followed by my mother 15 years ago and now my dad.  I now know why my wife and I opt out of Christmas when we can to just go enjoy some warm weather somewhere.  This year, it will be enjoying the snow in Alberta for a quiet time - which I am fine with.....  Quiet is good.

Here is the talk.  One three hours' sleep:

LOOKING FOR CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS

 

INTRODUCTION ABOUT MYSELF – WHAT I AM DOING IN TX

 

SERVE TO BRING JOY

If we want to find Christ, we need to go no further than service.  Many people will sit at home and many will feel lonely at this time of year.  The anti-dote for that is getting out and rubbing shoulders with others.  As we serve others that may be less fortunate than ourselves, we lose our own sorrows in seeing joy in others’ faces and realizing that our own problems may be quite diminutive, in comparison

17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God..  Mosiah 2:17

When we serve God, we have a confidence about us that waxes strong.  Young men, if you want to appear even more handsome to a beautiful daughter of God, perform service.  I promise you that, even if you are a little homely, that service will make you all the more handsome.  After I was married, if I wanted to score points with my wife, all I had to do was go out and use my Priesthood in the service of others – and it covered my other flaws in her eyes.  Women love a man who loves to serve God and his fellow man.  The flip side is also true to the young ladies.  There is a glow about a woman who has learned to look beyond herself and serve others.  This is the glow that ultimately attracts a righteous son of God.

As an old family tradition, our family has always celebrated the coming of Christmas by putting up a manger and talking about the various roles of the porcelain or paper or salt dough characters, enjoying delicious homemade goodies, and reading passages of scriptures that center on the Christ.

I am grateful for the miracle of recording devices that capture simpler times when faith and simplicity came so easily in young children.

READ THE SCRIPTURES ABOUT THE LIFE OF CHRIST TO BRING HIS SPIRIT INTO THE SEASON

My great concern about this time of year is that we do not spend enough time going over the scriptures.  When we talk of Christ and rejoice in Christ – the Spirit of God testifies and brings light and love into our lives.  You cannot testify of Christ and not have the Spirit of God enter the room.  When His name is mentioned, all evil flees – for where there is light, darkness CANNOT dwell.  The two are mutually exclusive. 

We read accounts of ancient prophets who yearned for the coming of the Messiah. We read scriptures that proclaim the wondrous story of His birth – specifically Luke 2.  In it we read about how Jesus was the one to open his mother’s womb. 

STORY OF DALLIN’S LIFE – HOW HE CAME INTO OUR LIFE AND HOW WE LOST HIM

In that our Dallin, who passed away, was the first to open my wife’s womb as the first two were born C-section.  When our boy was about 6 months old back in 2001, he was the perfect candidate to play the baby Jesus in the Ward Christmas play and one of my favorite photos of our young family is the two older kids playing an angel and a shepherd boy while Dad was “Joseph” and Mom played “Mary”, holding her baby “Jesus”.  And a great baby Jesus he was.  No crying he made (though this is not doctrine – but a hymn).  Hymns and great Christmas music piped into the home bring the glorious feelings associated with Christmas.  Those who are even jaded against Christ do not comprehend the light and the love we feel each Christmas.  They will call it the delusions of a deluded, fanatical and a brainwashed people.  Yet, the reality is that they cannot easily dismiss it and are defied to rationally explain it away.  The magical feelings associated with it – the love, the warmth, the light all come because we have chosen to celebrate the birth of the person who most affected humanity.  One who overcame sin and death – so that ALL who have received a body in this mortality, will indeed rise again and be united in eternal felicity to fall no more, forever.

When we prepare for Christmas by pondering its real meaning, we prepare to experience the Christ and His message. May I suggest three things we may want to study, ponder, and apply in this season of preparation.

REJOICE IN THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR – AND WHAT THAT BIRTH SET IN MOTION

First, rejoice in the birth of our Savior. We celebrate the birth of the Son of God, the Creator, our Messiah. We rejoice that the King of kings came to earth, was born in a manger, and lived a perfect life. When Jesus was born, the joy in heaven was so great it could not be contained, and angelic hosts parted the veil, proclaiming unto shepherds “good tidings of great joy, . . . praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”³

for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 

Wise Men “rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when . . . they saw the young child with Mary his mother, [they] fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts.”⁴

It is only fitting that we—like the Wise Men, shepherds, and angels—take time to rejoice and celebrate that glorious first Christmas Day.

 

PONDER HIS INFLUENCE ON OUR LIVES TODAY

Second, ponder His influence in our lives today. The more commercialized and busy the Christmas season becomes, the easier it is for the sublime message of the Savior’s life to get lost along the way. If we notice that planning for parties and scrambling for presents begin to detract from the peaceable message of Jesus Christ and distance us from the gospel He preached, let us take a step back, slow down a little, and reconsider what matters most.  One question we can ask ourselves, is “When was the last time we have mentioned Jesus outside of the rote prayers we often mechanically offer over food and for basic safety and protections?”  Could we not do better in bringing the discussion of the “reason for the Season” into our lives?  I think most of us could.

Christmas is a time for remembering the Son of God and renewing our determination to take upon us His name. It is a time to reassess our lives and examine our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Let this be a time of remembrance, of gratitude, and a time of forgiveness. Let it be a time to ponder the Atonement of Jesus Christ and its meaning for each of us personally. Let it especially be a time of renewal and recommitment to live by the word of God and to obey His commandments. By doing this, we honor Him far more than we ever could with lights, gifts, or parties.

For one day, we shall rise and see Him as He is – for He shall come with healing in His wings and though…….. I shall see him in the flesh.

LOOK STEADFASTLY FOR HIS COMING

Third, look steadfastly for His coming. The early disciples of Jesus Christ yearned for the time when He would come again. For them, mortality was a time of preparation and growth, of sifting and refining, a time for trimming their lamps and preparing for the return of their beloved Savior.

Brothers and sisters, 2,000 years later we also stand as His disciples. We are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The term latter-day is significant. We live and serve in a time prior to the Lord’s triumphant return. Our work is to prepare ourselves and the world for the coming of the Messiah in glory!

Not long after His mortal ministry, Christ said to the Apostle John, “Surely I come quickly.” And John answered, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”⁵

We live in the 11th hour before the coming of the day of our Lord. Let us therefore look forward to that blessed day when the King of kings descends with a shout,  takes away death, dries up tears, and ushers in a new era of peace, joy, and learning.

While the Christmas season is typically a time for looking back and celebrating the birth of our Lord, it seems to me that it should also be a time of looking to the future. Let us look forward. Let us prepare for that blessed day when He will come again. Let us be as wise as those ancients who watched for His coming. As His disciples, let us have in our hearts and minds the words of John: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

I pray that during this season and always, we will see the purity of the story of the Savior’s birth and feel sincere gratitude for His life, teachings, and saving sacrifice for us. May this gratitude cause us to renew our determination to follow Him. May it also lead us to draw closer to our family, our church, and our fellowmen. And may we look steadfastly forward to that blessed day when the resurrected Christ will walk the earth again as our Lord, our King, and our blessed Savior.

What a joy and a blessing it is to know that we will yet see our loved ones in eternal felicity – that ALL of those who have received a body, shall receive it again in perfect form.

Job 19

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold,

That one day, we shall stand before the perfect judge to be judged of all for our acts in the flesh:

13 Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.

 14 And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence.

 15 And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.

 16 Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul.

 17 Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment?

 18 Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man.

 19 Now, if there was no law given—if a man murdered he should die—would he be afraid he would die if he should murder?

 20 And also, if there was no law given against sin men would not be afraid to sin.

 21 And if there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature?

 22 But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.

 23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice.

 24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.

 25 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God.

 26 And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes, which were prepared from the foundation of the world. And thus cometh about the salvation and the redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery.

 27 Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds.

 28 If he has desired to do evil, and has not repented in his days, behold, evil shall be done unto him, according to the restoration of God.

 29 And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.

 30 O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility.

 

THIS is the great message of hope that is in me this Christmas season as I go to lay my father to rest.  I know that there is faith and power in the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood – and that he will be raised by one with authority and that he will unitedly raise my mother.  And that they will jointly raise me (if required) and then my father and I, my wife.  And then the sweetest moment of all;  the sweet, sweet moment when we, bearing our Priesthood unitedly, raise our boy from the grave where his mortality has slept for almost 15 years.  And he is brought forth, just as he was laid down, to become whole with the spirit never to separate from a perfected body, where we can raise him to maturity in a renewed and perfected world - and with felicity - watch him grow up as the calves in the stall (without worry about any mortal needs), to marry and raise a family of his own in Millennial bliss – unmolested by the evils that surround us in this fallen world.

THIS, my friends, is the hope I have in my Savior.

I am so grateful for His birth that we celebrate.  There is NO greater treasure or present that I can receive than this.  I give all glory and praise to God, whose wisdom it was to give man his Agency that allows us to choose Him and His Son FREELY – so that, “without compulsory means” that glory will flow to them forever and ever.

 In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen!

THE SITE OF THE TEMPLE AT ZARAHEMLA

Folks, this photo does nothing to show it, but it is a beautiful site photo of the area just west of Nauvoo (and across the river where you could walk across the river in the summer - before the dam was installed, that raised the water level there).  This pronounced limestone shelf was an impediment to easy river traffic at low water times, so a dam and locks were installed in order to avoid it.  I believe this was the same limestone shelf (basically a fault line where the north side erupted up) that they encountered on Parley Street when they attempted to dig the canal up and into downtown Nauvoo.  Prior to dynamite,  this was a show stopper when they hit this rock strata.  It was this rock strata river ford that Joseph used on occasion to fool the mobs when he would have someone dressed as he would, cross over on a horse and throw them off to his true whereabouts.

I predict that this area will once again become great and a spiritual center will rise from it, on a scale similar to that of Salt Lake City - but not as prominent as the NJ.

WELL, MY DAD IS GONE

He passed away Saturday at noon.  Peacefully - and I have felt peace over it;  the same peace I felt when Dallin died (though I still cried my eyes out over not holding a sweet little baby again - until the resurrection).

He was a good man - and I am blessed to be called his son.  He left a good name and a good legacy and footsteps for me to follow.  He was not perfect - but neither am I.  I think he meets the grade of what it takes to quality as a good man - becoming just and holy.  Where I think I am at.  I would like to be considered just and holy one day.  There is still much work ahead of me.

It really does not matter where one is at in that process - so long as the slope is positive when the mortal sojourn is cut short.  God requires a willing heart and mind - He does not require perfection; though we have all been charged with that end-goal.

So now I get to throw my work schedule into chaos and get out and go face a few siblings who did not have a good relationship with their father over selfish and dumb things.  Mostly over sin and greed on their parts.  I warned them some time ago that it was folly to maintain a hostile stance with someone over petty things - when that person was obviously closer to the veil than most are.

As usual, I will stay aloof and observe from a distance.  They will now have a more difficult than usual row to hoe.  One sibling that they have bullied pretty much out of the social circle will no doubt be there.  I am hoping it will be a positive thing.  Time is short people - wake up and get your crap together before the day comes wherein no works can be performed.  Then, it is everlastingly too late.  Today is the day to perform those labors......  but then, I might as well be talking to a wall......

Sigh....

CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND MALE CHILD PROSTITUTES FROM GUESS WHERE......

Ah, the home of Rahm Emmanuel (mister evil eyes himself) and his sidekick, bho or "bath house Barry" as he was known.  These kids were rented out all over the nation for the sick pedo freaks (most likely who had money and power), who are running our nation.

It is no koinkydink that our first gay, male prez (and complete and total sleazbag) came out of Chicago.....

Here is the article:

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1977/05/16/page/1/article/chicago-is-center-of-national-child-porno-ring/

Folks - it is time to drain the swamp, either by a Donald ditch - or by a Putin evapo-process......

All those who "know their brothers" will be gone - and it will be a blessing to have the blight off of this nation before we are completely over-run.

WATER - AND IT'S HEALING PROPERTIES

I have delved into the mikvah - or purification ritual that the Jews use after big events to clear the body.  The requirements of the mikvah is that it use flowing water or "living" water, that it not be from a stagnant source.  This is probably the primary reason that you will have a basement, this font or mikvah - because in the old days, you did not have pipes that contained pressurized sources of water - so they were at the lowest point that it could flow to.

In the first higher temple of this dispensation, Nauvoo, had a spring in its basement precisely for filling the font naturally - without having to haul water from the well that was on the lot.  There is a reason that there were aquaducts that brought fresh water into the city - partly for the reasons above and partly for a protection against a siege - a military tactic.

It only makes sense that water has a memory - as it is present at nearly every major event in our lives.  From our birth, to our baptism, to our taking of the sacrament, to washings and anointings in the Temples, to so much else.  Our body consists of over 3/4 water - through blood and other fluids.

Here is a great scripture that brings it all into perspective:

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

Water is an amazing thing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYqiDgh0UG0

 

 

The new temple films are fantastic, in that they depict things as they are - and as they will be.  Water came out of the middle of the Garden of Eden and flowed fours ways as the head of the rivers Gihon, Euphrates, Hiddekel and Pison:

 

 10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

 11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

 12 And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.

 13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.

 14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

 

This is exactly what will flow out from the New Jerusalem - and the living water will go forth and heal the land and will have amazing results - according to Spencer.  The fruits will not spoil, they will be large and will be true medicine for those who ingest them.

 

In the Old Jerusalem - the same thing will occur shortly; living water will come out from under the Temple there and it will flow down and will heal the Dead Sea of it's maladies.  This is both symbolic and literal.

 

I have to end here with a thought relating to the NJ and the OJ and the Nauvoo Temple and the Zarahemla Temple - as book ends on God's work.  Eventually, the Mississippi will be quite wide at that location.  I expect a temple again in Zarahemla - and the two will bookend that place, just as the two Jerusalems will bookend each other.  There is symmetry in this.  In the old land, we have the river Jordan flowing south into a dead sea.  In the new land, we have a river Jordan flowing north into a dead sea.  As you look at things in a clock-wise manner, the temple is located in the center of these two things.  I would love to see what is at the mid-point of those two places.