The guardian of the inhabited earth

 I didn't know what to title this. The above will do. 

I usually read several books at one time (obviously, taking turns reading them), and another book I've been reading is Old Testament and Related Studies by Hugh Nibley. This morning, I finished the chapter/sermon entitled Treasures in the Heavens and came across something interesting that I wanted to share.

This is from page 186 in the edition I have, and is written exactly as in the book (I changed nothing; the blog would not let me change the footnote # to a superscript, nor would it let me change it to a smaller font than the rest of the post):

These veils seem to serve as protecting as well as confining fences around the worlds: The light of the sun in its true nature (morphe) is not seen in this place, we are told, because it passes through "many veils and regions (topoi)" before reaching us; 116 its protective function is represented by a wonderful super-bird, called "the guardian of the inhabited earth" because "by spreading out his wings he absorbs (dechetai) the fire-like (pyrimorphos) rays" of the sun; "if he did not receive [absorb] them, the human race could not survive, nor any other form of life." 

That sounds, to me, like it is describing the magnetic field that protects the earth from the sun's power. In light of the fact that the magnetic field is weakening, so the when the sun throws things at us we feel it more (recent blackouts in certain countries is caused by that, according to some resources) makes it more likely, in my view.

 

 

The above picture came from here: 

 This search shows pictures of the magnetic field.

Repent - We're no better than the Lamanites in the Book of Mormon

My brother wrote a book called The Life and Times of John Steele: Mormon Kingdom Builder. It got published quite recently (he has written many articles and books in his life). His passion for genealogy (begun when he was about 10 years old) expanded into studying the history of his ancestors (when you trace your genealogy back to Kronos -which I think he did tongue in cheek- you've got to branch out). Now, my brother doesn't whitewash anything. He thinks the weaknesses make for a more interesting person. He's also agnostic, so he isn't going to be trying to get across the idea that the LDS Church is God's only and true kingdom. 

One thing I learned is that John Steele and Catherine (Campbell) left for America after Joseph Smith Jr. died. I had always thought they got there a few months before. So, John never heard Joseph preach against having more than one wife, neither did he experience Joseph excommunicating as many polygamists as he discovered (my brother didn't mention that about Joseph; I'm sure he believes Joseph had extra wives). I'm not going to go into more that the book talks about (but it does talk about the Mountain Meadows massacre, using info the LDS Church finally released, so it was more comprehensive than I've previously read) because I have a different point to make.

 I'm about 2/3 of the way through the book, and it struck me yesterday and last night that we are the Lamanites in the Book of Mormon. No, not by blood (most of us), but those of us descended from the Mormon pioneers who followed Brigham Young out west, laboring under an oppressive regime (though some refused to obey, and it was apparently common for people to leave when they'd had enough). This book was a second witness to me (the first being Passing the Heavenly Gift by Denver C Snuffer) about the wickedness of our ancestors. They were vile!

And I felt a strong desire to repent, repent from the false beliefs, from the follies of my ancestors, from their murders and hypocrisies. Whether directly or indirectly, they killed the prophets of their time (Hyrum and Joseph), and wasted no time going against nearly everything Joseph, Hyrum, and the Book of Mormon preached we should do and be. And I realized that I was in a situation akin to the wicked Lamanites when Ammon, his brothers, and their friends opened up the true history, refuting the whitewashed history the Lamanites had been taught. And, like the Lamanites, I wanted to cease the tradition. I wanted to discard my generational sins, I wanted to come to Christ and have all of that -from the beginning, whenever that was- washed away, washed clean.

We (all sects who believe the Book of Mormon is our book) are the wicked Lamanites, but we are also the wicked Nephites because we (having the Book of Mormon amongst us since its inception) really have no excuse for our vile behavior: violence, doing in our enemies (or those we judge as unrighteous, or just plain don't like) thievery, abuse, sexual predatory behavior, hatred, pride, arrogance, neglect of the poor and needy, and a host of other sins (the Book or Mormon lists several).

In the Book of Mormon, I've been reading Samuel the Lamanite's sermon and prophecies. His prophecies to the Nephites about how they will literally be destroyed (dead) if they don't repent really hit hard for our present society. And Samuel told them to repent maybe a dozen times (I didn't count how many times the word was mentioned in his sermon). Would to God that I could shout to the skies and be heard before we suffer the likes of which we have only read about - and some of us may not have ever read about it.

It's our common enemy who seeks for us to be full of pride and anger, full of fear and self=justification, full of lust and love of worldly things. This color against that color. Men against women. Women against men. This political party against that political party. This country against that country. Trans against everyone who figures God knew what he was doing. Those who believe in vaccines against those who don't. This against that. Some other thing against it's opposing paradigm. 

I fear we haven't much time left. Please, let us open our hearts to God and realize the precariousness of our situation. Let us love God above all else, including our sins that we think are no sins. Let us be open to drop all of our lies! All of our pride! All of our angers and fears! Our peace, safety, and happiness depend upon it - both temporal and spiritual. You and I will be most upset and regretful and living in horror if we don't repent. The scriptures promise it.

 

 

Should we pray or join the fray?

This post is NOT about the current nonsense going on in the "remnant" movement even though the quotes are from a thread discussing that very thing a couple of years ago. The point I wish to make has zero to do with that. Zero to do with who is right and who is wrong in the present drama and trauma going on. (I’ve no horse in that race.)

The point is this: If you find yourself hating a group of people, or despising them, or think you are better than them, it might be a good idea to humble yourself, ask God where your own failings are, and pray for those you despise or hate.

Post by Silver Pie » Sat Mar 09, 2024 5:47 am

    Farmer wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:54 pm

    Yet again another example of the mess Denver has created with the “remnant” group. 

Denver didn't create the messes. People who profess to believe what he has taught are making the messes.

    from the periphery I see constant circumstances of bickering and ungodly behavior.

When you see constant bickering and ungodly behavior, you are only seeing the people making a fuss. There are others who are quietly going about their business, doing their best to always face God, and doing their best to allow Christ to save them. To judge every person in the movement by the idiocy, sins, bickering, etc. of those causing contention isn't really a smart thing to do (yet, it is what people do, isn't it?).


Post by Silver Pie » Sat Mar 09, 2024 5:57 am

    Farmer wrote: Sun Feb 18, 2024 6:47 pm

    The arrogance, in many respects, of this group even calling themselves the remnant. I have personally evolved my thinking of what the remnant even is, let alone who they are at least a dozen times in the last 10 to 15 years and I’m still not sure my current understanding is even correct. There is a great deal of assumption and self aggrandizement going on with these various groups of people who look to Denver as their light. 

I don't call myself a remnant. I objected to the idea, in fact - but more recently, I realized they are a remnant of the LDS Church (especially if you include all the factions that claim descent from Joseph Smith Jr). I still don't call myself a remnant. I have no label for myself.

And, while some do look to Denver as their light, he preached against it profusely in the ten lectures. Some set themselves up as a light. Others listen to what Denver has to say, but use the Lord, the Heavenly Parents, and the Holy Spirit as the light they should follow.


Post by Silver Pie » Sat Mar 09, 2024 6:07 am

    Farmer wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 7:22 pm

    Emphatically, I state, Priesthood only comes from the heavens. 

Of course it does. The certificate is only so a man can show another fellowship or person who desires baptism/sacrament that the group he came from believes he's honorable enough to bless the sacrament and perform baptisms.

You seem really upset by a group of people who aren't, near as I can figure, causing you any pain. Instead of pointing fingers and b*ching about them, wouldn't a better use of your time be to look at yourself and see where the beams are in your own eyes, and where you might improve so that you can stand in the presence of God without fear or agony (whether in this life when he shows up, or in the next when he judges)?

Or you could pray for all the parties involved in this mess - those who are hurling insults, those who are threatening people, those who are pretending to be something they are not, and those who are the victims in all of that. That would be better than doing your part in spreading the contention on the internet - unless, of course, you get your jollies by being appalled and pointing fingers at other people's pain and anger, as you become part of the problem yourself instead of part of the solution.


Post by Silver Pie » Sat Mar 09, 2024 6:13 am

    Wolfwoman wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:46 pm

    Regarding priesthood: of course Denver believes that women can have an association with Heaven. That has been a big thing that he has taught. The thing about men having priesthood and women sustaining them in that has to do with Genesis 3:16. Due to conditions of the fall, men are to “rule” over women. This has to do with men being priests and leaders in the religious community and with them performing ordinances (law of Moses ordinances back in the day and baptism and sacrament today). He asked the Lord if women could hold priesthood and the Lord told him no. That’s not going to happen until the millennium. So he set up the system of women sustaining men in the priesthood which also harkens back to the original order of God where the mother chose who received the birthright blessing (see Isaac and Rebekah and their sons Esau and Jacob). You don’t have to believe it, but the reasoning is that he got it from the Lord himself. 

Yep. And he specified that it was "public ordinances" (like baptism and blessing the sacrament) that women weren't supposed to do.

Women can give blessings to family and friends. I know because I've done it (long before Denver showed up on the scene) and God honored that by causing the blessings to be fulfilled. Women also have a fellowship with heaven, every bit as real as any man has in his fellowship with heaven.


Post by Silver Pie » Sat Mar 09, 2024 1:21 pm

Since I haven't been coming to this site often lately and may not be back for another month, I want to clarify my last comment to Farmer (love the name by the way!). I was not trying to be accusatory toward them. My point is this: I expect we are all human . . . . Many or most of us view ourselves as followers of Christ, and from what I've seen of Farmer's posts, s/he is no exception.

As those who are following Christ - or trying to to the best of our abilities - I believe it behooves us to pray for fellow followers of Christ who are obviously struggling to be Christlike. It doesn't matter if they don't believe the faction we follow. It doesn't matter if they are "apostate" from the religion we hold dear. It doesn't matter if they are Mormon or CoJCoLDS or Catholic or Lutheran or Baptist or Holy Roller or any other label, or no label at all. It doesn't matter if we don't like the man (or woman) they believe speaks for God.

What matters is that we come to a unity of the faith, even if our doctrines and beliefs differ. Our unity should be in our prayers and concerns for each other (not in being appalled or angry because we don't like that group for whatever reason).

Also, to be clear, I view myself as scum, unworthy of the great mercy our Lord has shown to me (to all of us) - that he should have suffered in Gethsemane and died on the cross for someone as unprofitable and unworthy as me boggles my mind. It is difficult to accept this great gift he so freely gives to us. Just so you know that I'm not coming from some pretended attitude of being better than anyone here.

Who is Keeping You Out of Zion?

 I was reading the 1840 edition of the Book of Mormon this morning, near the end of 1 Nephi where he is explaining some Isaiah verses. (All scripture quotes are from the last chapter of 1 Nephi. No other references are given, because we don't all necessarily use the same version of this book.)

He wrote: "All that fight against Zion shall be destroyed."

That should give us pause.

If we are angry at each other - if we, in the stubbornness of our pride, are accusing others of being the reason we are not in Zion - if we are contentious and angry and will accuse, interrupt, and cut off those who are trying to explain their points of view  - if we are doing all this and more, WE are the ones fighting against Zion. WE are among those who will be destroyed.

Let that sink into your mind and heart.

 

1.  God . . . will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous.
2. He will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come.
3. The righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire.
4. All they who fight against Zion shall be cut off.
5. For the time speedily shall come that . . . all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil are they who need fear, and tremble, and quake; 

 Versus the following:

Because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power . . . he hath no power over [their] hearts for they dwell in righteousness and the Holy One of Israel reigneth.

We should not be accusing others of doing that which we, ourselves, are doing. (When I first heard that people were essentially saying, "You are the reason we don't have Zion," my mind was blown. NO ONE is preventing YOU from having a Zion in your own mind and heart. How do you know that God has not already begun to establish a physical Zion, but you don't know about it because he won't tell you on account of you serving the devil instead of him?) 

 Have we learned nothing from the experiences of the LDS pioneers who were driven from their homes and suffered all manner of attack on their persons and homes, including the deaths of too many of them and the violation of women? Do we not comprehend how serious this path is that we have embarked on? Are we so oblivious to the power demons have over the hearts of people today that we think we won't be punished in a similar horrendous fashion if we continue in the pride of and contention in our hearts?

 Are you aware that the reason God sent Denver was not just to try to establish a people worthy of Zion, but to also warn us of our destruction if we refused to repent? Folks, this is not a game. We need to take this task of creating Zion seriously - and I suggest we begin by looking into our own hearts and, with God's help, ousting pride, fear, sacred cows, the need to always be right.

Whose side are we really on? God's side - or the Devil's?