They say I have a "persecution complex".

A couple of days ago (February 23, 2017) I saw some friends I haven’t seen or spoken with for about a year. They were quite startled at my appearance (I haven’t cut my hair for 14 months and my beard is rivaling “Duck Dynasty”). I love and respect these friends; they know something is going on with me; but I perceive they think it is of a “rebellious” nature. Although I didn't elaborate my reasons, I did say it is of a "spiritual" nature. Suffice to say, the "Nazarite Vow" means something to me. 

One of my friends made an interesting comment to me, something like “you have a persecution complex”. A few years ago I vented my displeasure about being told by a local church leader that my growing a beard after being released from the Bishopric was being a “bad example”. My friend is right, I’ve told that story countless times and the comment from the Stake President still does bother me. So it's an easy guess that my current appearance is connected to that event; but it really isn't. 

So am I suffering a “persecution complex”? Should I get back in line with the expectations of others? … I think not. I'm not asking others to pay my bills or support me in any way. I don't expect others to comply with my preferences and only expect the same courtesy in return. Thankfully my Wife and grown Children accept me, even in my strangeness. They are my happiness, my cup runeth over.

It has been said "you can't un-see things", you also can't un-learn things. After thirty years of laziness, I've been studying scriptures and history for a couple of hours almost daily for the past six years. My paradigm began shifting immediately, especially when I discovered and studied the “Lectures on Faith” (http://lecturesonfaith.com/). In particular, Lecture Sixth, verses five through seven.

I was blown away by these teachings, and in attempting to live by them, feel closer to the Father, the Son, and the Mind of God (Holy Spirit, a/k/a Holy Ghost). Now my prayers with my Heavenly Father, through my Savior, are more sincere and real than any time before. I expect to know Them personally, as They have promised in the scriptures (D&C 93: 1). Joseph Smith’s Lectures on Faith were introduced to the Latter-day Saints in 1835. They were unanimously accepted as doctrine and scripture by the members. Unfortunately in 1921, a panel of five General Authorities removed the Lectures on Faith from the Doctrine and Covenants. Perhaps they figured since no one noticed, no one cared. If anyone wants to know what really happened, follow this link: http://denversnuffer.com/2016/10/joseph-smith-papers/ The Joseph Smith Papers Project cleared the matter up for me.

Additional understanding came to me while reading LDS author, Avraham Gileadi (http://www.josephandjudah.com/). In my training as a Latter-day Saint, I was taught the latter-day Gentiles that would reject the fullness of the gospel are every Christian church except the LDS church. Brother Gileadi cleared this up for me; he explains something so simple a child can understand. In 3 Nephi 16: 10, the Lord states: ”At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel … behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them”. I believe the Book of Mormon restored the “fullness” of [the Lord’s] gospel to the earth, so only those churches that embrace The Book of Mormon are capable of “reject[ing]  the fullness”, resulting in “the Father … bring[ing] the fullness of my gospel from among them [the LDS]”. I guess you can say that Catholics and Protestants have rejected the “fullness” when LDS missionaries unsuccessfully attempt to teach it to them; but how does the Father take something away from Catholics and Protestants when they never accepted it in the first place?

3 Nephi 16: 10 describes other characteristics of the Latter-day Gentiles who “reject the fullness”:

(1)”and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth”. The average LDS member believes “pride” is a sin; some even feel guilty if they express pride in their children. Many others, however, express pride in being descendants of “faithful and noble pioneers”. Many LDS hymns carry this theme (As Zion’s Youth in Latter Days: “upon a noble past we build”; Carry On: “oh youth of a noble birthright, carry on, carry on, carry on”).

A glimpse into the mindset of early LDS pioneers reveals the genesis of these "noble" and "great" ideas: “I wish to write now of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Lord revealed to this Prophet as early as the year 1831 that in consequence of great wickedness which would come upon the earth in the latter days, it would be necessary for great men to take the noblest wives. The Lord had reserved the most noble of His choice spirits to come forth through a pure lineage, as the noble spirits were not willing to come through a lineage that was corrupt” (Autobiography of Mosiah Lyman Hancock, 1834 – 1907).

I have reservations whether Joseph Smith taught this concept in the presence of ten year old Mosiah Hancock (Joseph Smith was killed in 1844). Brother Hancock wouldn't have been old enough to begin practicing plural marriage until well after it was introduced to the general church population in the Utah Territory under Brigham Young. It is more likely young Mosiah Hancock was trained by parents and church leaders, people he loved and trusted, that he and all Latter-day Saints were the "noble, great, and choice" ones identified in scripture (ref. Abraham 3: 22 https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/abr/3.22?lang=eng#21) Hopefully they were interpreting scripture correctly because the consequences are eternal. Brother Hancock obviously believed he was one of the "great men" since he adopted the practice of plural marriage and left a very sincere testimony of it. More than 80 off-shoots of the LDS religion are still practicing plural marriage today. Hopefully the Lord has ratified with "His own voice" (JST Genesis 14: 26 - 29 https://www.lds.org/scriptures/jst/jst-gen/14?lang=eng) that they are authorized to do so; again, the consequences are eternal.

Were early Latter-day Saints noble, faithful, and obedient to the Lord's commands? Chapter 124 of the Doctrine and Covenants (given in 1841) contains the answers in the form of promises and warnings from the Lord. Obedience was required for a positive outcome, which would have been manifest by divine protection from all enemies; disobedience would have been manifest by “cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments” brought upon themselves, and a loss of divine protection. We can call our ancestors “faithful and noble” all we want; but let us not overlook that Zion was not established in Nauvoo, IL and the Lord allowed internal and external enemies to drive our ancestors out. Read this post for more details https://callingitstraight.blogspot.com/2017/02/why-nauvoo-illinois-isnt-headquarters.html

In June 2016, LDS Apostle Dallin H. Oaks delivered an impressive speech at Oxford University in England that contains very specific statistics about the LDS Church and its contributions to the world http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/transcript-elder-oaks-university-oxford. He quoted that in 2015 alone, the LDS Church donated 40 million dollars in world-wide humanitarian aid. Impressive as that sounds, tithing payments to the LDS Church during the same year are estimated at 7 billion dollars. The LDS people are certainly wealthy and might make more friends by donating more than 0.006% (six one-thousandth of a percent) of its annual proceeds to the worlds poor and needy, who, after all, are our brothers and sisters.

It has become customary leading up to the two semi-annual General Conferences in downtown Salt Lake City, UT, to begin removing (arresting) homeless persons from Temple Square and City Creek Center properties, owned by the LDS Church. It might seem like the best solution to the "homeless problem"; but in any case, it sure makes it easier for faithful General Conference attenders to avoid the reminder that many of their brothers and sisters could use their love, compassion, and maybe a job (teach a man to fish).

I am certainly guilty of pride; my non-LDS relatives never appreciated my claim that I belong to the "One true Church of God". That seems a bit prideful to think, let alone say; but I did say it, and have need to repent. We Latter Day Saints are a lot like ancient Israel, mistaking a covenant with God as God's favor.  Luke 13: 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Does the LDS church meet the rest of the description of 2 Nephi 16: 10?

(2)”and shall be filled with all manner of lyings” (the Lord will not allow the leaders to lead the members astray / never was "doctrine" to deny the priesthood to black LDS men), (3)”and of deceits” (unpaid clergy / modest stipend, use of tithing funds for financial investments, HeartSell™, polls, surveys), (4)”and of mischiefs (changing / removing scripture ie. Lectures on Faith, changing temple ordinances, altered historical records, excommunication orders from headquarters), (5)”and all manner of hypocrisy” (continued affiliation with Boy Scouts of America, political influencing ie. Prop. 8 campaign), (6)”and murders” (Blood Atonement, Oath of Vengeance, Mountain Meadows Massacre), (7)”and priestcrafts” (celebrity status of leaders), (8)”and whoredoms” (Polygamy, past, present, and future), (9)”and of secret abominations” (all of the above and others yet unknown); ”and if they shall do all those things”, (the fullness of gospel will be taken away).

Moroni saw our time:

Mormon 8: 35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.

What did the Lord show Moroni?  

Mormon 8: 33 O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.

 36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.

 37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

 38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?

 39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?

 40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?

 41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.

Did you notice that “every church” will be corrupt in the last days, without exception. When will we LDS humbly recognize we are not exempt and repent?

Each of us must decide whether or not we believe the message of the Book of Mormon. What are its warnings? Does it say all will be well in the last days (or at least for the LDS in Zion)?

2 Nephi 28: 21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

 22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.

 23 Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment.

 24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!

I have never studied the Gospel of Christ more seriously than over the last six years. I am grateful for the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. Yes, I've read all the arguments against the scriptures (especially the Pearl of Great Price); I don't believe it wise to cast anything off without prayerful consideration. So whether or not the things I have written here manifests a “persecution complex” is of little concern to me … I have plenty of flaws to repent of. If you've read to this point, I hope you took the time to at least read Lecture Sixth, verses five through seven, or better yet, read all seven lectures http://lecturesonfaith.com/. I am astonished they were considered expendable; or could their removal have been motivated by doctrinal conflicts in practice in 1921? Whatever the case, I have read and prayed about these teachings, and taken my questions to the Lord, the only reliable source of light and truth (Jeremiah 4: 2, D&C 84: 45).

Do you have the faith to seek counsel from the Lord in all things and humbly correct your course with His guidance (Jeremiah 17: 5, 2 Nephi 4: 34, 2 Nephi 28: 31)? Can you trust the Lord alone or do you prefer a middle-man? Ancient Israel chose the middle-man and they are still waiting for the Messiah.

God bless you, my dear brothers and sisters.