I Am Obliged Too

A Not so Glorious July 4 Prophecy

Hugh Nibly once wrote that "anything I discuss with anybody from this time on must be within the framework of the scriptures. Why? Isn't it rather narrow? Arbitrary? Confining? Authoritarian? No, the scriptures have immense breadth.... Within the framework of the scriptures we are free to ponder, speculate, discuss, criticize, check and control from other sources--it is all legitimate. Above all, we are not only justified in falling back on the scriptures, we are obliged to--because there is no other framework available to appeal to."

As one who has spent considerable time studying, hearing, searching, feasting upon, and writing about the words of God, I can concur. I have come to realize that I have no choice but to frame everything I learn and observe within the framework of the scriptures--I am obliged!  It is the framework with which I compare everything.  

In addition to being instructed to "teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom...that (we) may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for (us) to understand..." (D&C 88:77-78), He wants us to learn "of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth (science); things which have been (history), things which are (current events), things which must shortly come to pass (prophecy); things which are at home (for us America), things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land (as have been revealed by the Lord); and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms..." (D&C 88:79). In other words, He wants us to learn all we can about everything! Why? "That (we) may be prepared in all things" and be able to "warn our neighbors" (D&C 88:80-81).  By doing so and comparing what we learn with His words, we cannot be deceived.

I can no longer read, watch, observe, discuss, think, hear or experience anything without comparing it to what the Lord has, through His words, revealed to me. The word of the Lord is my sole source of light and truth, and is the light and truth by which I compare everything. The word of God is much more than just the framework, it is the standard by which everything must be compared. I cannot help myself. I must compare everything against the standard which is the word of God that has been revealed to us and more importantly, to me personally.  

As I read His words and prophecies and compare them with the present state of our country, I am alarmed.  I read a substantial amount of news from many sources. I feel a need to be informed as counseled by D&C 88:79, and not just be acted upon by all the rhetoric and disinformation. I see and observe so much from politics, crime, inhumanity, power, wealth, greed, poverty, America, the world and its future; the environment, and the judgments upon this country as prophesied in the Book of Mormon. Image plays such a major role in present-day America as well as the need and desire to become a celebrity or to identify with one. Putting our trust in men, we adopt a political party or an ideology based on our values, ignoring the Lord's definition of good and evil.  Are you a conservative or a liberal? And all the while we let what the Lord has said fall by the wayside.  

The Book of Mormon defines the Nephites' democratic process:  "It is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make your law--to do your business by the voice of the people. And if the time comes that the voice of the people (more specifically His people) doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land" (Mosiah 29:26-27). "Hitherto visited this land" refers to the Jaradites and later refers to both the Jaradites and the Nephites. Also Isaiah and Jesus have said that Noah's day, when the majority chose wickedness and refused to repent, foreshadowed the end of the world (Isaiah 54:9-10; Matthew 24:37-39). When describing the rulers of God's people in that endtime generation, Isaiah writes, "My people are taken over without price; those who govern them act presumptously,' says Jehovah, 'and my name is constantly abused all the day long" (Isaiah 52:5). 

Being "taken over without price" in Isaiah's context occurs when a nation given to idolatry and growing lax in its morals, opens an opportunity for predatory elements to gain power and implement their self-serving agenda. The people's collective wickedness creates the conditions in which bondage to sin leads to physical bondage as lawlessness succeeds in institutionalizing itself. Gone are the days of equity and right as the liberties which were--for which honorable citizens paid the ultimate price--are now trampled underfoot as the few which have been given the opportunity, attempt to usurp power and undermine the liberties given to us under the Constitution. The spirit of the people withers as the powers of an oppressive leadership consolidate to still every impulse heaven sends, plunging the people into captivity, just when they were living it up and thought they never had it so good.

This is the reason the Lord has told us that "honest and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil" (D&C 98:10). The Lord justifies us in His church only if we are "befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land" to protect the liberties provided, and when we elect those who do not honor their oath to uphold the constitution which has made us free, then we begin to see Isaiah's and the Book of Mormon prophecy beginning to be fulfilled. Overriding this is the reality that we have the Constitution only because we (the Lord's people) refused to live His law! And because we never learn, we will soon, as prophesied, no longer have a constitutional democracy.

Even though a corrupt people might not wittingly choose evil leaders to govern them, they might do so unwittingly when society reaches a point that men "suppose what is evil to be good and what is good, evil" and decide to "abolish (their) traditional ways" (Isaiah 3:12; 5:20).  

Two ancient civilizations in the Americas perished when their people (the Lord's people) chose evil.  Evil in this context is the refusal to repent.  In the Book of Mormon those who are described as evil are those who are not repenting. To ancestors of the Jaredites, who migrated from the Tower of Babel, God had said, "Whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever, should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them. And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation should possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity" (Ether 2:8-9).  

The Jaradite nation self-destructed when rival rulers pitted the people against the other in a series of horrendous battles, leaving the prophet Ether, a lone survivor, to tell the story (Ether 1:1-2). Although Ether had given the Jaredites ample warning, they "esteemed him as naught, and cast him out" (Ether 13:13).

The Nephite civilization in the Americas perished for similar reasons. To their ancestors, who migrated from Jerusalem, God said, "This land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sake, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.... Inasamuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations.... But behold, when the time cometh that they shall dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessing from the hand of the Lord, ... he will take way from them the lands of their possessions, and he will cause them to be scattered and smitten" (2 Nephi 1:7, 9-11).

Nephite prophets had regularly cautioned their people that "if the time should come that the voice of this people should choose iniquity; that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction" (Alma 10:19). As it happened, a lone survivor of that civilization, too--who saw to the end of time--warns those who inhabit the Americas in our day of their impending peril: "This [record] cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God--that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done. Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall posses it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written" (Ether 2:11-12 emphasis added).

When a corrupt few come to power who are upheld by the many--who themselves are on the high road to corruption--they cannot expect the few not to exercise controls over the many contrary to the latter's expectations when their own lawlessness demands it. Nor can the many expect the few not to far exceed lawful limits in expanding their authority as they savor their newfound powers and devise unlawful pretexts to increase their hold on the many. Thus do the few lead the many captive--all because "the time came that the voice of the people chose iniquity" (cf. Mosiah 29:26-27). Meanwhile, the upright minority of the people who did not choose evil now doubly falls victim to evil (1) because they were not the ones who elected the few who deprived them of the freedoms they once enjoyed; and (2) because they have now become convenient scapegoats for the majority who entangled them in the collective guilt of the nation.

Book of Mormon prophets predicted the endtime restoration of all twelve tribes of Israel--whom God would gather to Zion in America and Jerusalem in the Land of Israel--and they were most concerned with events in America, which land God had promised their ancestors. They knew that God would bring Gentiles from the old world to possess the Americas after the Nephite civilization had been destroyed. They also saw that ultimately the Gentiles' civilization would be destroyed, and these prophets left behind records to warn the endtime Gentiles of their impending destruction. Jesus warned of the reversal that would take place when the Gentiles rejected the fulness of His gospel. Lehi's descendants who had been scattered and trodden under by the Gentiles, would do the same to the unrepentant Gentiles, who would then become like salt that has lost its savor. (3 Nephi 16:13-15)

These include the Gentiles' attempts to set up a king in the land sometime after they had established a democracy. The Lord said to Nephi that "this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there shall be no kings upon the land, who shall raise up unto the Gentiles. And I will fortify this land against all other nations. And he that fighteth against Zion shall perish saith God. For he that raiseth up a king against me shall perish, for I, the Lord, the king of heaven, will be their king, and I will be a light unto them forever, that hear my words" (2 Nephi 10:11-14). Note the parallel ideas between (1) of people "perishing" who fight against Zion; and (2) of people "perishing" who raise up a king (2 Nephi 10:13-14).

These Book of Mormon prophets saw these events and forewarned us who are identified with the endtime Gentiles. (D&C 109:60) Just before Jesus appeared to the Nephites, for example, wicked men "did combine against the people of the Lord, and entered into a covenant to destroy them, and to deliver those who were guilty of murder from the grasp of justice, which was about to be administered according to the law. And they did set at defiance the law and the rights of their country; and they did covenant one with another to destroy the governor, and to establish a king over the land, that the land should no more be at liberty but should be subject unto kings" (3 Nephi 6:29-30 emphasis added).

A Nephite name Amalickiah--a man of "cunning device" and "many flattering words" (Alma 46:10)--"was desirous to be a king; and those people who were wroth [with the people of God] were also desirous that he should be their king; and they were the greater part of them the lower judges of the land, and they were seeking for power. And they had been led by the flatteries of Amalickiah that if they would support him and establish him to be their king that he would make them rulers over the people" (Alma 46:4-5 emphasis added).

Because Amalickiah wanted (1) "to destroy the church of God;" and (2) "to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them" (Alma 46:10), the people who resisted were those who kept the law of God as well as the law of the land.

Let's examine the Lord's counsel in D&C 98:5-10 that honest and wise men should be sought for who will uphold the constitution as to preserve the people's liberty. This revelation in D&C 98 came in consequence of the persecution upon the Saints in Missouri. But we must also keep in mind the reason for the persecution as given in Section 103. "And those who call themselves after my name might be chastened for a little season with a sore and grievous chastisement, because they did not hearken unto the precepts and commandments which I gave unto them. ...But inasmuch as they keep not my commandments, and hearken not to observe all my words, the kingdoms of the world shall prevail against them. For they were set to be a light unto the world, and to be the saviors of men. And inasmuch as they are not the saviors of men, they are as salt that has lost its savor, and is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under the foot of men" (D&C 103:5; 8-10). In other words they were the cause of the persecution in Jackson County, as we will be the cause of the judgments that will come upon us in the endtime.  

When we choose to uphold dishonest and corrupt political leaders, we will receive the evil that is associated with it. And that evil is spelled out in D&C 98:5-10 as a loss of our liberties or those freedoms which the Lord provided, and for which Captain Moroni fought for against the Kingmen in the Book of Mormon. For this reason the Lord counseled us to support "the law of the land which is constitutional (why?), supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges [which] belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me. ..."as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this cometh of evil. I, the Lord God, made you free, therefore you are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free. Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn. Wherefore honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil" (D&C 98:5-10). And when we do not seek honest and wise men, but instead seek to support those who are not wise and honest, even if they are members of our political party, then we suffer the consequences.

This was echoed by James Madison who asked "Is there no virtue among us?" If there be not, we are in a wretched situation … No form of government can render us secure."

We put our politics and our self interests before God's counsel. No man or woman, or group of men and women is going to solve the problems that are in this country or the world. Mankind will not solve the crime, the poverty, the abuses of power, climate change, greed, drugs, human trafficking, abortion, healthcare, the economy, the inequality, or any of the other issues facing mankind. In fact it is because of mankind that we have all these problems.

This is not a political issue. It is about putting our trust in men, a political party, a Supreme Court, congress and ourselves. One thing I have learned, however, is that there are a lot of people who care and provide invaluable services to others, but it is not enough to save us from ourselves.

But, you may ask: Should I not support a Republican instead of a Democrat?  I am not sure where the idea came from that to be a good Mormon you had to be a Republican, but at one time there were no Republicans in the church. In 1887 the Republican Congress passed the Edmonds-Tucker Act which disincorporated the Church, took most of its properties, disenfranchised all polygamists and all Utah women, abolished the Perpetual Emigrating Fund that subsidized immigration from Europe and took over the Mormon-dominated public school system. Because of these and other abuses by the Republicans, the Church members became Democrats. It was not until the Church saw this imbalance as dangerous and sent out people to recruit members to the Republican party that there started to be a better balance. But, again, that is not the issue. The issue is putting our trust in people instead of God, a practice we have been warned about repeatedly. 

Again this, I believe, is the result of not understanding the Gospel and the Lord's Law. Do you think He supports the idea of inequality where the rich enhance themselves at the expense of the poor? Where big business turn people and property into money, and grind upon the face of the poor? Where the environment is destroyed to appease wealthy business owners? Do you think Joseph Smith or Brigham Young did? The Lord certainly does not and has made it clear that "it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin" (D&C 49:20).  

Because of the great inequality that existed both in and outside of the Church, Alma gave up the seat of Chief Judge to "preach the word of God unto [the people] to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness...seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them" (Alma 4:19). Perhaps we need the word of God in our lives to remember our duty to God and His children and to seek with all our heart, mind and will to establish the cause of Zion before His second coming instead of putting our faith and trust in men. 

Unfortunately the prophets do not see that happening because of our aligning ourselves with Babylon and knowingly sinning against His gospel. "At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders [like Alma 'murdering' or leading astray many to their destruction], and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them. And I will remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them" (3 Nephi 16:10-11 emphasis added).

Those people who rallied to Moroni's "Title of Liberty" covenanted to keep the commandments of God so that he might empower them against the enemies of freedom. The people cast their rent garments at Moroni's feet and covenanted with God. Inspiring this courageous "Band of Christians" in their rightful cause, Moroni pointed them to the foundations of their freedom, affirming that God could be relied upon to preserve them alive and to thwart their enemies' designs so long as they remained faithful and true even if a majority of the people should betray them. Armed with knowledge of these scriptural precedents or types, America's Gentiles (including Mormon Gentiles) in our day can turn hindsight into foresight when the endtime "Kingmen" make an appearance in the land.

And finally, this note. Among the Nephites, Gadianton's band finally contrived to "obtain the sole management of the government, insomuch that they did trample under their feet and smite and rend and turn their backs upon the poor and the meek, and the humble followers of God" (Helaman 6:39). Their "filing the judgment seats, having usurped the power and authority of the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright before him; doing no justice unto the children of men; condemning the righteous because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and wicked go unpunished because of their money; and moreover to be held in office at the head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world, and, moreover, that they might the more easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills," reduced the people to "an awful state," readying them "for an everlasting destruction" (Helaman 6:40; 7:4-5).  

The Book of Momon tells the backstory to these upcoming events within the Nephite nation: "The Lord had blessed them so long with the riches of the world that they had not been stirred up to anger, to wars, nor to bloodshed; therefore they began to set their hearts upon their riches; yea, they began to seek gain that they might be lifted up one above another" (Helaman 6:17). America's Gentiles (which includes us) have indeed long been blessed with this world's riches, more than all other peoples before them. As the most consumer-driven society of all time, have they not indeed set their heart on their riches and put their trust in men? If there remains in their minds any doubt about the wicked usurping power to destroy our liberties in our day, isn't it because "their eyes are glazed so they cannot see; their minds incapable of discernment" (Isaiah 44:18; cf. 56:10)?