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Friday, November 26, 2021

When the Church Refused to Love as the Savior Did

As I read the New Testament, I am astounded by the Savior's love for others. Story after story, sermon after sermon, his message was of love, love and more love. With an immeasurable height and an eternal width and breadth, I doubt neither you nor I will ever be able to fathom how deep his love goes.

(Sometime, open up the scriptures and see how many times the Savior used the word "Love." Then count how many times he used the word "Obey").

Who he loved was -- and still is -- considered radical and revolutionary. To the Samaritan woman, he said "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour." [1]. To the Roman Centurion, he said, "Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour." [2].

As "the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth" [3], one would expect to see the church behave in a manner which parallels, if not perfectly mirrors, the Lord's behaviors. Those truly in need could hypothetically come to the Lord or his church, and receive an equal amount of love.

Let's look at a recent, if not contemporaneous, example of a group of people with no rejected status (like the Samaritan woman) nor are despised (like the Roman centurion):

Canadians!  😀

When God Dumped a River of Water from Above

On November 14-15, 2021, southern British Columbia was hit by catastrophic flooding.

Southern British Columbia gets rain all the time. But this time, it was different. B.C. was hit by an "Atmospheric River" -- a long, narrow band of moisture in the atmosphere that can extend for thousands of miles. These rivers in the sky can transport 15 times the volume of the Mississippi River. When that moisture reaches the coast and moves inland, it can rise over mountains, generating rain and snowfall. [4]

Unfortunately, with respect to this storm, the area's infrastructure (including pumps in and around the Sumas Lake area) never had a chance. [5] Thousands of British Columbians were displaced - some having been trapped, shivering, in their vehicles for days. Thousands more were evacuated. Human and animal lives were lost. The costs of damage to highways, railways, farmlands and infrastructure is in the billions. Supply chains have been severed. Grocery store shelves have been emptied. And roads into Vancouver have been virtually cut off from the rest of the country…all due to the floods.

And here's the kicker:

The flooding isn't over yet. There's another line of storms hitting B.C. right now.

And all this comes after another atmospheric river drenched the same area almost two years ago. [6]

So, you tell me: Do you think that people there need a little help? Maybe with some basic necessities, like water, food, blankets, sanitary supplies, medicine and most of all, hope?

When Love Appeared in British Columbia at JUST the Right Time

Fortunately, many people got the help - and most importantly, the understanding, caring and love - they desperately needed:

  • The Salvation Army in Kelowna (where evacuees from Merritt and Princeton are staying) has been collecting donations like winter clothing and toiletries, and giving them to people whose homes are affected by the floods. [7]
  • Seventh Day Adventist Church: People can leave their cars and have a place to eat and sleep - and bathrooms," Bill Gerber, director of the center run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. [8]
  • St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church: A donation plate was set up to collect money for the residents of Merritt and Princeton. [9]
  • St. Anthony of Padua Church in Agassiz (Catholic): First responders and volunteers at the community center have been busily organizing clothing, blankets, food and water being brought in by local residents. Parishioners have opened up their homes to total strangers who were displaced by the floods. [10]
  • Baptists: The Grace Baptist Church in Hope, B.C., is offering a warm welcome to dozens of stranded travelers with every comfort it can provide, right down to the padded pews at bedtime, says lead pastor, Jeff Kuhn. [11]
  • Alliance Church: "If anybody needs anything, you can walk in there and come out with eggs and milk and produce," said Shawn Vickar, a pastor at Yarrow Alliance Church. [12]

Most impressive: The local Sikh community. (Background: In the Sikh religion, Sikh temples are called gurdwara. These places have daily feeding programs called langar, which serves meals to all free of charge, regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. People sit on the floor and eat together, and the kitchen is maintained and serviced by Sikh community volunteers. [13]  This is in contrast to the LDS Church, which announced earlier this month that it will be closing all temple cafeterias in 2022). [14]

In Surrey, volunteers at Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib cooked more than 3,000 meals a day for travelers who were stranded in Hope because of the double mudslides that came down on Highway 7. They then hired private helicopters out of their own pockets to ensure the food was delivered to people in need. [15] Check this out:

Who Was Absent from Relief Efforts

With everybody from tiny parishes to Sikh communities involved in rescue and relief efforts, it would be natural to expect the LDS Church to be in the thick of things. 

(After all, the Vancouver British Columbia temple is located just 14.3 km (8.9 miles, or 24 minutes) east of the aforementioned Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib).

That's where things take a sad turn.

Of the eight stakes and one district in B.C., [16] only one -- the Abbotsford British Columbia Stake -- has been severely impacted by the flooding. Yet you'd never know it by looking at the "Abby Stake's" Facebook page, nor the church's Canadian homepage (full-size screen captures taken 11/26/21 are located here and here). 

Not a word mentioned about the floods. Not even one "Helping Hands" yellow jacket.

However, I have learned from a first-hand source that one ward in the Vancouver, BC stake did tell its members (1) to "consider reaching out to your ministering assignments, friends and neighbors and see if they are in need of assistance", (2) it is "seeking counsel from Stake Leadership on how best to respond and render assistance" and (3) to contact the Elders Quorum or Relief Society if "you or anyone you know is having challenges at this time."

Interestingly enough, the church's financial reserves (estimated at well north of $100 billion) are intended to serve as a "rainy day fund" for the church. [17] (If ever there was a rainy day in Canada, I'd say now would be the time). 

The man who created that "rainy day fund" for the church was former apostle and First Presidency member, N. Eldon Tanner. He hailed from -- you guessed it -- Canada…(Alberta to be specific; British Columbia's neighbor to the east). [18]

Tainted Love

Are the Brethren aware of the troubles in southern British Columbia? It's highly likely.

Could they order Latter-day Saint Charities to assist that area's residents? Yes.

Why haven't they?

We are told "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." [19]

With respect to Southern B.C.'s current conditions, where are the fruits of the Lord's love via his "only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth"?

I'll admit that the Savior did say that we should not let our alms be seen of men, and we shouldn't let our left hand know what our right hand is doing. [20]

But is the best the Church can do is to wait for instruction from above the hierarchy chart and in the meantime let leaders know if anyone in a cataclysmically devastated area "is having challenges at this time"?

It'll be interesting to see what the church does (or doesn't do) when the heat of the pre-millennial tribulations really gets turned up.

Sources

1. Matthew 15:28
2. Matthew 8:13
3. D&C 1:30
4. https://www.inverse.com/science/atmospheric-river-storms
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQdsRd77Gmo
6. https://globalnews.ca/news/6489579/what-is-an-atmospheric-river
7. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/merritt-princeton-evacuees-donation-1.6258925
8. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-hope-amid-the-chaos-disaster-brings-out-the-best-in-flood-hit
9. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/11/21/particularly-dark-kamloops-bc-pastor-urges-parishioners-to-help-those-in-need.html
10. https://www.catholicregister.org/item/33761-faith-and-the-b-c-floods
11. https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1974625859970
12. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/yarrow-chilliwack-bc-floods-volunteers-relief-centre-1.6260193
13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langar_(Sikhism)
14. https://www.deseret.com/faith/2021/11/5/22766173/the-simple-reason-the-church-is-going-to-close-all-temple-cafeterias-in-2022
15. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/canadian-sikhs-help-flood-hit-in-british-columbia-340457
16. https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/statistics/locations/canada
17. https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2019/12/20/despite-whistleblower
18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Eldon_Tanner
19. Matthew 7:20
20. Matthew 6:1-8


Saturday, November 20, 2021

The Covid-19 "vaccines": A "godsend from heaven" "to gather Israel" "on both sides of the veil"?

Yesterday, an audio interview with Elder Rasband was published to YouTube. In it, he ties the Covid-19 "vaccine" to church priorities "to gather Israel" and then calls the "vaccine" a "godsend from heaven":


"In the presence of the prophet, we have prayed that we would have a vaccine not just for the sake of making us healthy and resilient to this Covid-19, but also to allow the church to gather Israel on both sides of the veil. I mean we all know through this prophet, President Nelson, that that's the mission of our era: to gather Israel.
He has said to the youth before the most important work that we're involved with is to gather Israel. And so when you put that as the overlying need for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you can understand that with the prophet and others who have prayerfully considered this, that a vaccine is actually a godsend from heaven. And we view it that way. We view it as a miracle the time that it took to develop it the speed at which it was made available in record time compared to other worldwide pandemics."

I think it's interesting to note that the Brethren didn't ask for repentance (the historically-proven antidote to plagues and pandemics), nor a turning to God or better hearing him. I wonder why not.

Is the Covid-19 "vaccine" truly a "godsend from heaven" "to gather Israel" "on both sides of the veil"?

Let's ask BYU basketball player Richard Harward and his family (here's a YouTube to introduce him to you; he seems like a really great guy to me):

 
Richard Harward is the 6-foot-11, 256-pounder from Orem who's a Senior and plays starting center on BYU's basketball team. [1]

At least, he used to.

On November 4th, five minutes into an exhibition game against Colorado Christian, Richard Harward appeared to have injured his knee. He stood on the court resting his hands on his knees. After nearly collapsing on the bench, he was promptly taken to the locker room, where he sat out the rest of the game.  [2]

On November 9th, BYU's basketball team beat Cleveland State 69-59. Sitting on the bench, in his street clothes, was none other than Harward. In an interview,  BYU coach Mark Pope said of Harward, "He has a cardiovascular issue right now. Doctors haven't given a definitive timetable for his return." [3]

"He's in the best shape of his life, he's playing the best basketball of his life. He is the emotional leader of this entire team over the last two years. His emotional leadership is even a bigger loss than his body on the floor. We miss him. We're hoping he gets back as soon as possible. But we just don't know. It could be days, weeks or months. We're just not sure," Pope told the Deseret News [4]

So let's get this straight: Harward is in the best shape of his life, but he has a cardiovascular issue? Huh? For a young healthy male with no previously disclosed, underlying conditions, it just doesn't make sense that he would suddenly have a cardiac issue.

But apparently, sudden cardiac conditions -- and even deaths -- are mysteriously a prevalent thing in the world of sports these days, especially male sports which features players in their 20s:


Meanwhile...
  • Avi Barot, 29, Saurashtra cricketer, suffered cardiac arrest, passed away
  • Abou Ali, 22, professional footballer, collapsed on pitch during game
  • Fabrice NSakala, 31, Besiktas defender, collapsed on pitch during game
  • Jens De Smet, 27, footballer, collapsed on field, passed away of heart attack
  • Jente van Genechten, 25, footballer, collapsed on field due to heart attack
  • Frederic Lartillot, French footballer, collapsed in changing room, passed away due to heart attack after game
  • Benjamin Taft, 31, German footballer, collapsed after game, passed away due to heart attack
  • Rune Coghe, 18, Belgian footballer, suffered cardiac arrest on pitch
  • Sergio Aguero, 33, Barecelona star striker, admitted to hospital for cardiac exam after match
  • Emil Palsson, 28, Sognal midfielder, collapsed due to cardiac arrest during game
  • Antoine Méchin, 31, French triathlete, suffered pulmonary embolism
  • Luis Ojeda, 20, Argentine football player, unexpectedly passed away
  • Greg Luyssen, 22, Belgian pro cyclist, ends career due to heart issues
  • Pedro Obiang, 29, ex-West Ham star, suffered myocarditis post vaccine [5]
So, what brought Richard Harward from awesomely healthy to indefinitely down due to a cardiovascular issue?

Well, what hasn't been reported by any media (yet was confirmed to me via a second-hand source who knows Richard's family) is that Richard was given the Covid-19 "vaccine" 8 days prior to the Colorado Christian game.

Another source, who has been in contact with Richard's mom, independently confirmed the fact that Richard recently received the jab. She posted this information online which remains unverified (yet I'm confident that if it were inaccurate, parents Bradley and Alice Harward [1] would set the record straight):

  


I find it incredible that both "coaches and doctors" are telling Richard that "these unfortunate things (pericarditis AND myocarditis) just "randomly happen to people sometimes" and that "sudden blood clots all over his body are basically "inevitable at some point in life for some people."

What a pack of lies.

Compounding the situation is the fact that there has been zero media follow-up on Harward's condition. Neither the Deseret News, KSL, the Salt Lake Tribune, BYU University Communications, BYU Athletics nor the Daily Universe have said anything about Harward's status since Coach Pope made his comments on November 10th.

So I return us back to Rasband's definitive statements that the Covid-19 "vaccine" is a "godsend from heaven" "to gather Israel" "on both sides of the veil":
  • Do you think Richard Harward would agree that it's a godsend?
  • Do you think Bradley and Alice Harward would agree that it's a godsend?
  • How about this lady, who took the Pfizer jab a week before she experienced Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, which doctors have attributed to the vaccine (she had "no previous medical history," too) [6]
Look! A bona-fide godsend for this lady?
Speaking of godsends: Let's see something God has sent us to help beat back Covid-19, and see how it's been embraced by the Brethren...

The Brethren's Proven Disbelief in the Word of Wisdom

Found on a Facebook page about a year ago:

"Faithful Latter-day Saints claim they obey the Word of Wisdom, yet they generally don't.

We focus on some of the thou-shalt-nots almost entirely—abstaining from drugs and the like, including coffee and beer, despite the former not actually being named, and the latter being actually authorized to use (to a degree).

But we completely ignore other things, like having to eat meat only sparingly—and totally sidestep the broader set of principles.

Someone is deemed compliant if they don't smoke or drink alcohol, yet they can guzzle mind-altering medications, energy drinks, and binge on junk food and be "fine."

This misses the point entirely.

Similarly, during Covid, all we hear is a slanted subset of mandates whose purported purpose is to protect public health.

Poppycock.

Why? Because if we actually cared about health—physical and mental—we would be hearing calls for getting good exercise, sunlight, physical contact with loved ones, and eating nutritious foods to boost our immune system and overall health.

But that's not what we're hearing—not at all.

Instead, everyone's salvation apparently rests in a hastily created chemical concoction to be injected into our bodies.

Until then, physical and mental health continues to decline, with scant attention paid to higher principles that might actually help.

So we're compliant in protecting health by isolating ourselves and masking up, just like we're compliant with God's health code if we just avoid drugs and such.

Both levels of compliance are superficial and fake."

Here's a comment re: the above post:

"I've been saying this! They don't care about our health. Not once have I seen any official mention the importance of strengthening our immune system."

Three head scratchers

  1. In its August 12, 2021 message to the world, the First Presidency endorsed the "wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders" for all "individuals to be vaccinated." Why have we not been given the actual words from God regarding medical and health strategies (and very likely spiritual strategies) during the pandemic?
  2. We are told in D&C 89:21 that "the destroying angel shall pass by" you if you keep the Word of Wisdom. In all the First Presidency's public pronouncements regarding Covid-19, why has there been no mention of healthy habits (a la the "Word of Wisdom")? 
  3. Doesn't Pres. Nelson hold "all the keys" of the priesthood? If so, can't he just rebuke the virus and make it go away? Just where is the power of God in all of this?
Sometimes I think we are left to ask the same question that Elisha the prophet asked when he looked towards the heavens and exclaimed, "Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted?" [8]

We've heard far more from the Brethren about the "wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders" than we have about the Word of Wisdom. And so far, we haven't heard one word from God, nor his revealed scriptures, nor the word "repent", nor seen any manifestations of healing miracles by and upon those with true faith to heal and be healed. 

Not. Once.

Or maybe it's as simple as one fact:

Maybe the government is now the Brethren's God and religion.

Sources

Sunday, November 14, 2021

EXCLUSIVE: Ensign Peak Advisors Latest Stocks and a Combined Report



Two days ago, the Securities and Exchange Commission published the latest Ensign Peak Advisors report. I have yet to see the news of this latest filing in Google News, so maybe we could consider this an exclusive report. 

You can view: 
Here are their quarterly totals:

Quarter    Total Values 
Ended        (billions)
9/30/21 $47.9
6/30/21 $49.5
3/31/21 $46.5
12/31/20         $44.0
9/30/20 $39.5
6/30/20 $36.7
3/31/20 $29.8
12/31/19         $37.8

I've also compiled all the reports into one online spreadsheet, which I'll be updating quarterly. 
  • "Top 10" = The Top 10 investments during the last quarter. 
  • "Gainers" = The Top 10 investments by comparing the most recent report with the 2/14/20 report. 
  • "Pharma" = Covid-19 pharmaceutical manufacturers (you know...the ones the church is encouraging you to do business with). 

Bon Appetit!

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Hot Chocolate - A Word of Wisdom Violation

As a mortal, I believe I am afforded the opportunity to have a few indulgences which I know I will have to answer for at the pleasing judgment bar of God someday. 

Some may have indulgences like porn, video games, gambling, drinking and knowingly voting for socialists. I don't judge these people, and with the exception of the latter category, I tend not to avoid them, either. But if you want to avoid me after reading my #1 indulgence, I'll understand (I'll be sad, but understanding).

My #1 indulgence: I. Love. Hot. Chocolate.

I also confess that as Fall progresses and the advent of Winter is nigh, my wife and I plan to totally indulge in copious amounts of hot chocolate until next Spring. In fact, we plan to get some half-n-half, pour in 1-1/2 packets of hot chocolate, mix and nuke that sucker up until there is steam wafting from the chocolately deliciousness. 


Sinful? Decadent? Degenerate? Corrupt? Immortal? Damn straight it is, boss! It's a genuine, bona-fide Word of Wisdom violation: 

Yes, D&C 89:9 says my drinking hot chocolate runs contrary to the Word of Wisdom (ditto for soup, warm broth, Ovaltine, Postum, Japanese mugi-cha and herbal teas such as, chamomile, ginger and peppermint, which contain no caffeine at all, but let's just stick with hot chocolate for now).

I know there are many who would say "But…but…" and begin giving me interpretations of that scripture. BUT BUT do you see an asterisk or exception anywhere in or around "hot drinks are not for the body or belly"?  

Here, let's go back to the Joseph Smith Papers to see if there's an asterisk there:

[1]

Nope, no asterisk nor explanation there. There is an explanatory footnote (#15) in the right-hand panel, which says "Several other early nineteenth-century authors argued that any liquid taken at a high temperature could cause injury." But that provides no exception to the scripture. [2]

Explanations about Hot Chocolate's Sinful Status

In Bush's article (here), he admits that "The subject of "hot drinks" is a little more complicated. "While he admits that "Both tea and coffee were considered mild stimulants," here in the 20th and 21st centuries, drawing a conclusion that caffeine is the culprit is a little complicated. A cup of Swiss Miss cocoa mix has 5 mg of caffeine [3] - far less than a can of Diet Pepsi (35-38 mg). [4]

But I diverge from the issue of hot-ness. Bush's article correctly points out that at the time the Word of Wisdom was written (Feb 1833), liquids (such as soup, tea, and coffee, taken at a very high temperature) were considered "injurious." I always knew there was something about Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup that was injurious!

For more insight, I turned to the General Handbook of Instructions, which says:

Saying that Prophets have clarified that the teachings in D&C 89 include abstinence from hot drinks (tea and coffee) really doesn't tell me anything new. 

It may have started with Hyrum Smith, who said, "Again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly. There are many who wonder what this can mean, whether it refers to tea or coffee, or not. I say it does refer to tea and coffee." "I say" is hardly a definitive doctrinal statement per the Law of Common Consent. [5]

I found 22 references to "hot drinks" in the Scripture Citation Index. In a 1963 talk, Boyd K. Packer once said that "hot drinks -- understood by the Church to mean those with habit-forming potential, specifically coffee and tea" is the perpetuation of an unofficial interpretation of D&C 89:9. [6]   

In 1945, Joseph F. Merrill took things a step further, saying "hot drinks is enjoined, because they are not good for man. By hot drinks was meant primarily tea and coffee, though subsequent researches found that any drinks at high temperatures, such as hot water and soups, are harmful. The ideas voiced in the Word of Wisdom were expressed in words having the meaning current at the time. In those days hot drinks were commonly understood to be tea and coffee." [7] 

Yet Merrill's statement that "hot water and soups, are harmful" isn't accompanied by any double-blind, placebo-controlled studies (the kind which wise and thoughtful medical experts and government leaders gravitate to). It is, in fact, pure speculation ("the forming of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence"), which Ronald A Rasband recently denounced when it comes to seeking answers concerning our health. [8]

In the April 7, 1868 General Conference, George Q. Cannon gave us a definitive interpretation: "Almost every elder who has spoken from this stand has felt the necessity and importance of calling the attention of the people to this subject (the Word of Wisdom). We are told, and very plainly too, that hot drinks-tea, coffee, chocolate, cocoa, and all drinks of this kind are not good for man." [9]

But then again, a forgetful Apostle Mark E. Peterson said in 1962 that "At no time has cocoa or chocolate been included in the prohibitions of the Word of Wisdom, and at no time has the Church said that cocoa is as harmful as coffee. Those who make these claims do so on their own responsibility, and obviously without knowing the facts of the matter." [10]  So much for "clarification."

I've thought about writing a letter to Pres. Nelson and asking him for guidance. After all, who better than a worldwide cardiac expert / global faith leader / revelator all in one to answer my question about hot chocolate? But alas, I know that the Brethren would refer my inquiry back to my stake president. He would call me in for a meeting just to refer me back to the General Handbook of Instructions. This is known as an "endless loop" (which is very common among members seeking answers).

Luckily, Pres. Nelson's 1st Counselor has come to the rescue. Dallin H. Oaks said, "The shield the Lord gives to the faithful also protects us against our own harmful impulses. The revelation that commands modern Saints to refrain from alcohol, tobacco, hot drinks, and other harmful things promises the faithful that "the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them (D&C 89:21)." [11]

If what Oaks says is true (and knowing that the church's prophets, seers and revelators would NEVER mislead us), I am now praying that the destroying angel has mercy on me and won't slay me…

…all because I drank hot chocolate.

Homework Assignments

Today: Please leave me a comment (below) with the best hot chocolate brand/recipe, and why. I figure if I'm going to sin and even be destroyed by an angel for sipping hot chocolate, I might as well do it with style and panache.

Whenever: The next time you're having some casual conversations with a member, ask them if they think it's important to obey the Word of Wisdom. (They'll likely say yes). Then ask them about abstaining from hot drinks. Then ask them about hot chocolate. If they say it's allowed, ask them where it says so in D&C 89. If they say church leaders have said it's just tea and coffee, then ask them when that revision to D&C 89:9 was voted on by church members. Let me know how it goes!

Sources

1.   https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-27-february-1833-dc-89/1
2.   Bush, Lester E. "The Word of Wisdom in Early Nineteenth-Century Perspective." In The Word of God: Essays on Mormon Scripture, edited by Dan Vogel, 161-185. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1990.
3.   https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/does-hot-chocolate-have-caffeine
4.   https://cspinet.org/eating-healthy/ingredients-of-concern/caffeine-chart
5.   "The Word of Wisdom," Times and Seasons 3 no. 15 (1 June 1842), 801.
6.   April 1963 General Conference
7.   October 1945 General Conference
8.   https://ldtruths.blogspot.com/2021/09/elder-rasbands-divinely-inspired.html
9.   Journal of Discourses V.12:221-223
10.   Patterns for Living, 1962, p. 235-37; https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1973/04/our-readers-write?lang=eng
11.   "Bible Stories and Personal Protection", October 1992 General Conference