SACRAMENTAL PRAYERS—CHURCH SHOULD BE KNEELING DURING
Moroni said, “And they did kneel down with the church, and pray to the Father in the name of Christ, saying:” (Moroni 4: 2)
The Lord said, “And the elder or priest shall administer it; and after this manner shall he administer it—he shall kneel with the church and call upon the Father in solemn prayer, saying:” (D&C 20: 76)
Discuss.
Next Scriptural Discussion: #15 ABORTION
Previous Scriptural Discussion: #13 ANGER AND INSULTS—ARE FORBIDDEN
If you were to read the entry on tithing in the Church book, True to the Faith, you’d notice something very peculiar. The actual scripture that the current law of tithing is based on is not in the entry. There is a reference to D&C 120: 1, which is the revelation creating the Council on the Disposition of Tithes and there is a reference to Malachi 3: 10, which talks about the blessings promised to the ancients who gave tithes and offerings to the poor (“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house,”) and there is a reference to 1 Nephi 4: 1, which has nothing whatsoever to do with tithing, but merely talks about having faith in God’s commandments. Why, I wonder, isn’t the actual revelation on tithing mentioned in this book?
Another curious thing I’ve noticed is that whenever blessings of tithing are mentioned, either Malachi 3: 10 is quoted (which has nothing to do with the current law of tithing which we have, but was a blessing promised to the children of Israel for charitable donations to the poor,) or D&C 64: 23 is quoted (which is the oft quoted “fire insurance” verse, but that also is dealing with charitable donations and not the currently practiced law of tithing.) In fact, in virtually no talk given in sacrament meeting or in ward or stake or general conference, or even in classes, is the actual revelation on tithing either quoted, referenced or discussed. In those talks in which it is mentioned, it is only in the briefest of terms, giving nothing more than a snippet.
What is it about D&C 119 (the revelation on tithing) that has all the speakers tight-lipped? I hope to discuss this in part two.
In the meantime, has anyone else noticed the lack of section 119 being cited and discussed?
Next Tithes and Offerings article: The law of tithing (part two)
Previous Tithes and Offerings article: Charitable gifts: investments of earthly or heavenly benefit?
ANGER AND INSULTS—ARE FORBIDDEN
Jesus said, “But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (3 Nephi 12:22)
Discuss.
Next Scriptural Discussion: #14 SACRAMENTAL PRAYERS—CHURCH SHOULD BE KNEELING DURING
Previous Scriptural Discussion: #12 WAR—TO BE RENOUNCED
If you look to the right side of each page of this blog, under the category of Religion, you’ll notice a link called Hush Money. Hush Money is a Christian ministry. Their goal is to inform the masses and especially the Christian churches of the difference between a state-church and a free-church, and to help state-bound churches become free-churches. A state-bound church is one that has entered into an agreement with a state through incorporation and/or 501c3 (tax-exempt) status and receives state favors in exchange for following the rules of that agreement. For example, to quote from the Hush Money web site:
For a 501c3 church to openly speak out, or organize in opposition to, anything that the government declares “legal,” even if it is immoral (e.g. abortion, homosexuality, etc.), that church will jeopardize its tax exempt status. The 501c3 has had a “chilling effect” upon the free speech rights of the church.
When a church accepts the 501c3 status, that church:
- Waives its freedom of speech.
- Waives its freedom of religion.
- Waives its constitutionally guaranteed rights.
- Is no longer free to speak to the vital issues of the day.
- Becomes controlled by a spirit of fear that if it doesn’t toe the line with the IRS it will lose its tax-exempt status.
- Becomes a State-Church.
Other points from Hush Money:
- A corporation is “a creature of the State.”
- The State is “sovereign” over the corporation.
- The corporation is “incorporated for the benefit of the public.”
- A corporation is a State “franchise.”
- Incorporation is a State “privilege.”
- A corporation is “subject to the laws of the State.”
- “Its powers are limited by law.”
- It must “obey the laws of its creation.”
Now, the LDS Church is not a free-church. It is incorporated as a Corporation Sole. The name of the corporation is CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. I believe it also has 501c3 status.
Because it is not a free-church, it cannot speak freely about any topic. It cannot criticize the government or its leaders. It cannot call a government to repentance. It can lose its property if it doesn’t follow the agreement it has with the state. It is important to keep this in mind when trying to understand why the leaders speak on one topic, but not on another. Or, when they address one topic, that has clear scriptural application, without taking a stand on it.
Although I do not see it happening in the present environment, it may be beneficial for the Church to employ the services of Hush Money and un-incorporate itself, becoming, again, a free-church. Only when that happens will the gags of the State be removed and perhaps we will hear much more interesting sermons being preached from the pulpit…
[Note: when I use the term “Church,” I’m referring to the incorporated entity known as the CORPORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS and when I use the term “church” I’m referring to the baptized and confirmed people of God, who are the latter-day saints.]
Next Anarchism/Anarchy article: The Mormon Worker and the LDS Anarchy Blog: The hand of the Lord or just a coincidence?
Previous Anarchism/Anarchy article: Why voting is so important to the State
WAR—TO BE RENOUNCED
The Lord said, “Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children;” (D&C 98: 16)
Discuss.
Next Scriptural Discussion: #13 ANGER AND INSULTS—ARE FORBIDDEN
Previous Scriptural Discussion: #11 GIFTS AND POWERS OF THE SPIRIT—DEFINED AS GOOD WORKS
In blogs everywhere, Christians are discussing the “Mitt Romney” issue. The Christians are applying the scriptures they find in the Bible to determine whether it is justifiable for them (being Christians) to vote for a Mormon (a non-Christian, in their view.) Everyone believes the state propaganda that “it is our patriotic, civic duty to vote” without questioning the origins or truthfulness of the statement. The state, though, doesn’t care whether you vote for a Christian, a Muslim or an atheist, only that you vote.
There is a great chasm between the way the Lord works in his church and the way the state operates. The Lord himself chooses the rulers of his church, but only with the common consent of the people. If the people disapprove, the person called does not get set apart. The law of common consent is practiced by voting, a hand up for, a hand up against, or no hand up, at all. The majority always decides the issue. Although these are religious offices of power, none of the offices are sought or campaigned for. Plus the “voice of the people” can veto anything and everything without limit, although currently, this voice is nearly always unanimous in the affirmative at all levels.
Now, let’s compare that to state offices. The state is a means of force or compulsion. All its offices are offices of power. How are the offices filled? Through people seeking them and campaigning for them. This is fundamentally different than how offices are filled in the Lord’s church.
To put this in better perspective, consider Jehovah and Lucifer, during the time when a savior was to be chosen. Two volunteers spoke up when the Father asked who he should send. One sought for the power of God (Satan – “wherefore, give me thine honor,”) while the other didn’t (Jesus – “the glory be thine forever.”) The Father chose the one who didn’t seek the power. Thus, the doctrine of seeking for power is satanic in nature. It is how the devil operates. It is the same doctrine used by the king-men of the Book of Mormon, or any group of individuals who desire to rule over men.
Now, back to Mitt (and all others running for election.) There are two ways to get elected in this country. One way is not to run for office, not to seek it, not to campaign for it, but the majority writes your name in anyway and you become the elected official which you can then accept or reject. That is one way. The other way is to run for office, campaign for it and seek it out as much as possible and then, on election day, discover that the people chose you to rule instead of others. That may not seem like much a difference, but it is. One way is the way of Jesus, the other way is the way of Satan.
Many people running for office, and those voting for them, will tend to think of elected officials and the seeking and campaigning involved to obtain these positions of power as merely another type of job and that this is the way these jobs are obtained. But state positions are not private positions. They are positions of power in that they wield the ability to throw you into prison, depriving you of life, liberty and property. Public office are offices of force, backed by the arm of the state. Private jobs are offices of negotiation. No private office carries the ability to jail you, deprive you of property or even life. These are fundamentally different offices.
Generally, those Americans who plan on voting during Election 2008 or any other election will vote for men and women who are power-seekers. No matter how honest and upright you may start out, once you begin seeking for power over the children of men, you come under the jurisdiction of the devil, for this is how he operates and one of the ways he can gain influence over men.
Now, to wrap up this post. The state understands that when people seek for power through political office and when people vote for these power-seekers, the system of rule that is currently set up remains established and the power can continue to be concentrated in the hands of those that rule. The state must keep the people divided into those that rule and those that are ruled by spreading propaganda among the masses that by participating in the elections, they will have a say in how the rulers rule over them and over everyone else. It is a doctrine of the slave choosing his master.
Only anarchy can change the status quo and remove the rulers, making all men equal, but anarchy has no chance among voters (who support the current system,) only among non-voters (those disaffected by the state.) As the state fears anarchy most of all, because it removes its power completely, it must encourage “get out the vote” campaigns.
Next Anarchism/Anarchy article: Free-church vs. state-church
Previous Anarchism/Anarchy article: Stateless in Somalia: How Clannish Anarchy Works
LDS Anarchy 