Follow the Brethren? Great! You're now a U.N.-loving Pro-Choice Socialist!

Last July, after witnessing an alarming spike in coronavirus cases, Church leaders amped up their support for wearing masks by asking all Utah Church members "to be good citizens by wearing face coverings when in public." [1]  

This isn't the first time the Brethren have counseled us to "be good citizens." Pres. Monson said we should "be good citizens of the nations in which we live." [2]   So did Spencer W. Kimball [3] and Ezra Taft Benson. [4]   

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): New Church beliefs you probably haven't heard of. 

In 2015, all United Nations member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, [5]   which provides a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future." At its heart are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for mankind to achieve by 2030. Now, the annual High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development serves as the central UN platform for the follow-up and review of the SDGs. [6]  The Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) provides substantive support and capacity-building for the SDGs and their related thematic issues. [7]  

In other words, whatever country you live in, your country supports the 17 SDGs [8] which (admittedly) on the surface seem innocuous:

Remember: Because you're a good Latter-day Saint, you believe in being a "good citizen," which means you support these SDGs, too. Let's take a look at a few of them:

Guess what -- You're now Pro-Choice.

"3.7 By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes." [9]  

"5.6 Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences" [10]  

See that phrase "sexual and reproductive health"? Those are code words for abortion, taken from the International Planned Parenthood Federation's mission: [11]  

It's a well-known fact that the United Nations is pro-choice. The U.N.'s High Commissioner for Human Rights said, "denial of abortion services may constitute torture and / or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment." [12]    And at the U.N. Conference held in Salt Lake City in 2019, Conference organizers canceled a workshop which included pro-life representatives, saying it wasn't inclusive enough. [13]  

I've blogged before about abortion (here) and wondered why the Church doesn't do more to combat abortion. Now I see why not.

Guess what -- You're now Pro-Socialism.

Perhaps the single most striking feature of Agenda 2030 is the practically undisguised roadmap to global socialism and corporatism/fascism. Consider SDG 10, which calls on the UN, national governments, and every person on Earth to "reduce inequality within and among countries." [14]    To do that, the agreement continues, will "only be possible if wealth is shared and income inequality is addressed." [15]  

As the UN document also makes clear, national socialism to "combat inequality" domestically is not enough - international socialism is needed to battle inequality even "among" countries. 

"By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources." [16]   the document demands. In simpler terms, Western taxpayers should prepare to be fleeced so their wealth can be redistributed internationally. In other words, "Socialism."

Why the church loves these SDGs (and thinks you should, too)

I wouldn't think that being soft on abortion and socialism would be a priority of the Church, but its relationship with the U.N. takes a pre-eminent status. The U.N. and the Church have worked together in an official capacity since 2011, when the U.N. recognized Latter-day Saint Charities, the humanitarian arm of the Church, as an accredited nongovernmental organization.

As Sharon Eubank (head of LDS Charities and General Relief Society Presidency 1st Counselor) said, "It's important for the Church to have these relationships because we're a multilateral organization, we work in multiple countries, multiple political systems, multiple cultures, and the United Nations does as well. When multiple countries are involved, you have to work with the United Nations. So it's good for us and a sign of the maturity of the organization that Latter-day Saint Charities and the United Nations have this relationship." [17]  

OK, fine, so the church is arm-in-arm with the United Nations. But what about Agenda 2030 and all its SDGs? Here is Sharon Eubank again, speaking as a representative of the church:

"Part of the look forward is in recognizing the importance of mobilizing women of faith to work on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) issues and to acknowledge their faith not as a barrier but the key to progress and success. The 2030 agenda won't happen without religion, and religion won't happen without women. They are the movers.

The SDG goals on gender equality, peace, and justice are tackling how to change culture and behavior. Faith has a power greater than almost anything else to motivate people to act, to change minds, to alter behavior." (Sharon Eubank, G20 Interfaith Forum in Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 3, 2018) [18]  

In this statement, it's clear that Sharon Eubank wants Agenda 2030 to succeed:

"The way forward is to do just what this forum has as its goal. Invite and respect as many faith actors as possible, build understanding among them, and integrate them into every aspect of the 2030 SDG agenda. It will lead to the greatest success possible for equity, justice, and peace." [19]   

If that isn't enough, here is Elder Christofferson endorsing Agenda 2030 in the October 2020 General Conference:

[https://youtu.be/KS3iK9mr40M?t=10]

For context, here's Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying almost the same thing:

The Church is a big believer in being a good "Global Citizen" - enough so that it sponsors numerous United Nation functions and conferences. Top Church leaders -- including other apostles, seventy and mission presidents -- give keynote addresses at these events. 

And the organizations it supports, in turn, also support pro-abortion and pro-socialist agenda. 

What does God say about all this?

We are called to not be of the world:

"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." [20]  

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." [21]  

Instead, we are commanded to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." [22]  

We do this by being a peculiar people…

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." [23]  

…which means we give the world zero place in our hearts.

"Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men." [24]  

The Book of Mormon warned about churches which will someday seek the world's acclimation:

"For the time speedily shall come that all churches which are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world, and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity; yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil are they who need fear, and tremble, and quake; they are those who must be brought low in the dust; they are those who must be consumed as stubble; and this is according to the words of the prophet." [25]  

It's a concern that Joseph F Smith had almost 140 years ago…

"It is very evident that some of us are yet "of the world" [26]  

…and Boyd K Packer reiterated over 30 years ago:

"In recent years I have felt, and I think I am not alone, that we were losing the ability to correct the course of the Church. You can not appreciate how deeply I feel about the importance of this present opportunity unless you know the regard, the reverence, I have for the Book of Mormon and how seriously I have taken the warnings of the prophets, particularly Alma and Helaman. Both Alma and Helaman told of the church in their day. They warned about fast growth, the desire to be accepted by the world, to be popular, and particularly they warned about prosperity. Each time those conditions existed in combination, the Church drifted off course. All of those conditions are present in the Church today. Helaman repeatedly warned, I think four times he used these words, that the fatal drift of the church could occur 'in the space of not many years.' In one instance it took only six years (see Helaman 6:32, 7:6, 11:26)." [27]  

With the church's endorsement of SDGs which are soft on abortion and espouse socialism, tell me:

How is the church's status of being peculiar, of being in the world not of the world, doing?

How God wants a better world established

Brother Joseph said that:

"We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object. … The time is soon coming, when no man will have any peace but in Zion and her stakes." [28]  

Zion is not to be established via the ideologies of man, but instead, the words of God:

"In regard to the building up of Zion, it has to be done by the counsel of Jehovah, by the revelations of heaven." [29]  

There is no indication that Jehovah has been behind the drafting, approval and implementation of SDGs. There is no mention of God in them whatsoever.

What would Joseph say about this state of affairs now?

"So long as unrighteous acts are suffered in the Church, it cannot be sanctified, neither can Zion be redeemed." [30]  

And what if the Church continues to embrace man's ideologies, not the counsel of Jehovah, in building a better world?

"If Zion will not purify herself, so as to be approved of in all things, in His sight, He will seek another people; for His work will go on until Israel is gathered, and they who will not hear His voice, must expect to feel His wrath. Let me say unto you, seek to purify yourselves, and also all the inhabitants of Zion, lest the Lord's anger be kindled to fierceness. Repent, repent, is the voice of God to Zion; and strange as it may appear, yet it is true, mankind will persist in self-justification until all their iniquity is exposed, and their character past being redeemed, and that which is treasured up in their hearts be exposed to the gaze of mankind." [31]  

Even though the Church is not intent to forward the work of God on God's terms, you still can:

"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward." [32]  

Knowing that the building up of Zion should be "our greatest object," here is my question for you:

How does God want you to help build Zion?

Sources

 1.   https://www.deseret.com/faith/2020/7/10/21320807/mormon-covid-19-pandemic-masks-church-latter-day-saints-in-utah
 2.   "Until We Meet Again", October 2008 General Conference.
 3.   "We are on the Lord's Errand, April 1981 General Conference
 4.   "Advice to Youth," April 1959 General Conference
 5.   https://sdgs.un.org/goals
 6.   https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf
 7.   https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/about
 8.   https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sdgs-framework-for-covid-19-recovery/
 9.   https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/health/
10.   https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/
11.   https://www.ippf.org/sites/default/files/2016-11/SDG%20and%20FP2020.pdf
12.   https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Women/WG/AmicusBrazil.pdf
13.   https://staging-env.liveaction.org/news/united-nations-cancels-pro-life-workshop/
14.   https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/inequality/
15.   https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
16.   https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030-goal1.html
17.   https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/alignment-of-church-and-un-goals-demonstrated-in-service-project-for-hungry-children?lang=eng
18.   https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/sister-eubank-addresses-global-interfaith-forum-says-religion-wont-happen-without-women
19.   Sharon Eubank, Remarks before the G20 Interfaith Forum in Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 1, 2018; https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2018-10-01/sister-eubank-speaks-about-protecting-empowering-women-at-global-religious-forum-8113
20.   John 15:19
21.   1 John 2:15
22.   Matthew 6:33
23.   1 Peter 2:9; also see Deuteronomy 14:2, 26:18; Titus 2:14
24.   D&C 121:34-35
25.   1 Nephi 22:23; also see 2 Nephi 9:30; Alma 4:8; Helaman 7:12; 3 Nephi 6:15; Mormon 8:28; emphasis mine.
26.   Joseph F Smith, April 1883 General Conference
27.   Elder Boyd K. Packer, "Let Them Govern Themselves", an address given at a Regional Representatives Seminar, March 30 1990
28.   Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 3:390-91
29.   Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 5:65
30.   Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 2:146
31.   Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 1:316
32.   D&C 58: 27-28