FAMOUS QUOTE: 

"Happiness is the object and design of our existence,

and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path

that leads to it." ---Joseph Smith, Jr. 

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9. JESUS IS A PRIVATE PROPERTY ADVOCATE

8.  JOSEPH SMITH, Jr., Great American Prophet and Seer (1805-1844)

7.  Dear Fellow Jew and Christian:

6. What Do Latter-day Saints Accept As Revelation From God?

5. WHAT IS CHARITY?

4. ONLY ONE GOSPEL, AND "MORMONS" TEACH IT 

3. QUESTION: Do "Mormons" believe Jesus and Satan are brothers?

2. Mormon Accomplishments, The Many Good Things About "Mormonism."

1. BOOK OF MORMON Baseball Game

  9.  JESUS  IS A PRIVATE PROPERTY ADVOCATE       

     The real nature and objective of Socialism and/or Communism is "legal plunder" (The Law by Frederic Bastiat), or legal theft—misusing the power of government to steal.  These philosophies or religions and others sharing the same objective promote violations of private ownership and control of wealth.  In the end, the real enemy of these authoritarian philosophies or religions is Jesus Christ, because He is the primary advocate of private property and free enterprise, within the guidelines of His Ten Commandments and other laws.      

     Now, what is the proof Jesus is a private property advocate?  It is simply His commandment "Thou shalt not steal." (Matt. 19:18; Ex. 20:15)   That is a prohibition against violating exclusive private, or individual dominion in property.  No one can steal what belongs to everybody, nor what belongs to nobody.  Therefore, anyone, be it a president, a king, or agent of any government, national or local, who advocates legal or illegal plunder is stealing, and the same is subject to the judgments of God for violating exclusive, individual dominion in property.  Legal and illegal stealing, of course, take many forms.  Taxes of many kinds, regulations on land and commerce, and expansions of government authority in schools and other institutions are some of the primary “legal” methods of stealing.   Anyone, therefore, proposing unjust dominion over others and their wealth is not innovative and clever, but guilty of a crime going back to the very first family, Adam and Eve and their criminal son, Cain, who killed his brother Abel primarily to steal his flocks. (Gen. 4:8) 

     The American Republic is built upon ideas in the Bible that God is the depository of all human rights, and that Man receives his dominions from God by Divine dispensation.  The "rule of law" is the rule of God's law, which circumscribes even the majority within the Ten Commandments, those Divine laws that both establish and limit human dominions, or “rights.”  A "right," of course, is a claim to dominion within some area of human endeavor, and there are just dominions allowed by God, and unjust ones condemned by God. (Matt. 19:18; D&C 121:39)  

     It is the practice among authoritarians not to recognize any limit to their dominion, since they do not appeal to God as their highest legal authority.  Instead, they are gods unto themselves.  Such an attitude also leads to “democracy,” “the devil’s own government.” (Benjamin Rush)   Democracy was believed by our Founding Fathers to be mob rule, an evil form of government, as it does not recognize any limit to its dominion, either, being a tyranny of the majority over the minority.  Matters of life and death, right and wrong are submitted to a vote, rather than to an appeal to God's laws.  Just look at legal stealing through taxation, the chief means of “redistributing wealth,” "gay marriages," baby abortions, the death penalty, "minority racial rights," and other examples.  Wicked men and women pretend to establish what is right and wrong by majority rule, and enforce it by the police power of the state, as if the majority determines the validity of all moral laws as it takes the place of God.   

 7.  Dear Fellow Jew and Christian:

    At the onset, I give you credit for being aware of at least some things Latter-day Saints promulgate.  Since your families seem to be so compatible, why not make eternal units out of them, something accomplished by covenants?   But before that, you need to believe in modern prophets and the restoration of all things.  We believe a Restoration of doctrines and priesthood authority from heaven was necessary, so that mortals now living do not need to rely on long-past dispensations of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which were tainted with apostacy and intentional and unintentional errors.  Ancient dispensations accompanied the following prophets, Adam, Abraham, Enoch, Noah, Moses, and Christ, all ending in apostacy. (See also Wikipedia:  “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” as well as “Mormonism”)

     I admire your faithfulness to your core principles, sometimes at the expense of wealth.  As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I would like to revisit some subjects you touched on, and perhaps add to them.  I agree that knowledge of Hebrew and Jewish months and holidays are useful better to understand the scriptures.  At the same time, we all should realize Jews are Christians, since they believe in a Messiah or Christ, although they generally do not accept the Babe of Bethlehem.  Still, they are Christians, or “Messiahites”--without Yeshua.  The Book of Mormon is intended to convince them and others that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Messiah who has already come.  In fact, the Book of Mormon is necessary to understand fully the New Testament (new covenant), and the New Testament is necessary to understand the Old Testament (old covenant).  The Book of Mormon records a seamless transition from one covenant to the other in 3 Nephi, with the appearance of the resurrected Christ. 

     The Book of Mormon, like the Bible, is full of Hebrew-isms, including proper names, something an ignorant, country-boy translator named Joseph Smith, Jr. could never have known, especially in his day, 1805-1844.  For the sake of interest, I recommend the article, “Hebrew in English,” giving us a look in the window regarding the scattering of Israel.  The article references the unpublished doctoral dissertation of Terry Blodgett from the University of Utah, in which he identifies hundreds, later thousands of Hebrew words in modern languages.  In short, based on the language clues, English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Icelandic, Danish, and other “Germanic” languages, including some aspects of French, are fundamentally corrupt Hebrew dialects.  That suggests many Israelites are simply lost as to their identity as blood descendents of Jacob. 

    The peoples of the Book of Mormon spoke and wrote a less corrupted Hebrew, recording  many of their words on precious metal plates to resist corrosion and oxidation (Jacob 4:1-2) for thousands of years.  Their use of an Egyptian shorthand (Mormon 9:31-37), at least in some instances, allowed them to engrave a great deal of information within a small area of writing space. (1 Ne. 6:1-3)   

    Whatever to the contrary you may have heard, the Latter-day Saints believe more of the Bible, and can explain more of it than anyone else. As Apostle Paul prophesied, we believe a complete Restoration was necessary “in the dispensation of the fullness of times” (Eph. 1:9-10; D&C 121:31; 124:41; 128:18-20), so mortals now living could avoid depending on long-past dispensations of the gospel.  The Book of Mormon is evidence the Restoration took place in the early 1830s, and continues even to the present day.  If Isaiah 29:11-14 is not talking about the Book of Mormon, then it is talking about a book just like it.  The same goes for Ezekiel 37:16-19.  For myself, I sincerely believe the Book and the man who translated it.  Joseph Smith’s genuineness as a prophet stands or falls with that Book, as does the whole Church. 

     I refer you to an excellent out-of-print study guide, of which I have only a few, named Building Faith in Christ with the Book of Mormon by Glenn Pearson and Reid Bankhead, outstanding theologians.  It carefully analyzes the Book of Mormon, the most Christ-loving book in print. (2 Ne. 25)   The Book of Mormon was written for our day, and as compiled, the people it deals with never had it, but their prophets saw our day, and chose to tell us of those things of most worth to us.  Inspiring the compilers, Jesus Christ Himself is the actual Editor.  Like other scriptures, the Book is as current today in identifying the trials and temptations of fallen Man, as any major modern newspaper report, but unlike the latter, it prescribes Christ and repentance as the real solution to Man's predicaments.  We should constantly ask ourselves what lessons we can learn from its inspired contents.  Additionally, it comes with a promise to the sincere inquirer exercising faith in Christ, in Moroni 10. 

     Some important questions for the Book of Mormon reader are included in previous entry No. 6.  Many people have adverse opinions about the Book of Mormon, when they have never read it.  And few who actually read it fail to believe it is true. Everyone reading the “Testimony of Three and Eight Witnesses” at the front is under greater condemnation thereafter, than before, if he or she rejects the Book.  A reader of the Book of Mormon does not put the Book on trial, but goes on trial.  However, each individual is allowed to judge for himself or herself, according to the moral agency God gave Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.   

     Gathering Israel is one major objective of the Church of Jesus Christ, as is building a temple in Jerusalem.  In fact, Joseph Smith sent Orson Hyde to Israel to dedicate the land for the return of the Jews.  Elder Hyde delivered a dedicatory prayer on the Mount of Olives on October 24, 1841, the text of which is contained in a letter to another apostle, Elder Pratt. (For a complete copy, see: www.nyx.net/~cgibbons/orson_hyde_prayer.html or see below)   The Orson Hyde Memorial Garden in Jerusalem commemorates that event today, as of 1979.   As a side note, Elder Hyde took an early, unofficial census of the city of Jerusalem, reporting also the violence in Beirut (“Beyroot”).  The account parallels somewhat observations made by Mark Twain [Samuel Clemens], when he traveled in the same area in the 1800s.

Orson Hyde's Letter Containing Dedicatory Prayer  

The following letter is reprinted in Chapter 26 of volume 4 of History of the Church, under the subtitle "Elder Orson Hyde's Letter -- His Prayer of Dedication on the Mount of Olives."

ALEXANDRIA, Nov. 22, 1841

DEAR BROTHER PRATT:

--- A few minutes now offer for me to write, and I improve them in writing to you.

I have only time to say that I have seen Jerusalem precisely according to the vision which I had. I saw no one with me in the vision; and although Elder Page was appointed to accompany me there, yet I found myself there alone.

The Lord knows that I have had a hard time, and suffered much, but I have great reason to thank Him that I enjoy good health at present, and have a prospect before me of soon going to a civilized country, where I shall see no more turbans or camels. The heat is most oppressive, and has been all through Syria.

I have not time to tell you how many days I have been at sea, without food, or how many snails I have eaten; but if I had had plenty of them, I should have done very well. All this is contained in a former letter to you written from Jaffa.

I have been at Cairo, on the Nile, because I could not get a passage direct. Syria is in a dreadful state -- a war of extermination is going on between the Druses and Catholics. At the time I was at Beyroot, a battle was fought in the mountains of Lebanon, near that place, and about 800 killed. Robberies, thefts and murders are daily being committed. It is no uncommon thing to find persons in the streets without heads. An English officer, in going from St. Jean D'Acre to Beyroot, found ten persons murdered in the street, and was himself taken prisoner, but was rescued by the timely interference of the pasha. The particulars of all these things are contained in a former letter.

An American traveler, by the name of Gager, who was a licensed minister of the Congregational or Presbyterian church, left Jerusalem in company with me. He was very unwell with the jaundice when we left, and at Damietta, we had to perform six days quarantine before we ascended the Nile. On our passage up, he was taken very ill with a fever, and became helpless. I waited and tended upon him as well as our circumstances would allow; and when we landed at Bulack, I got four men to take him to the American consuls at Cairo, on a litter; I also took all his baggage there, and assisted in putting him upon a good bed -- employed a good faithful Arabian nurse, and the English doctor. After the physician had examined him, he told me that he was very low with a typhus fever, and that it would be doubtful whether he recovered. Under these circumstances I left him to obtain a passage to this place. After I had gone on board a boat, and was just about pushing off, a letter came from the doctor, stating that poor Mr. Gager died in about two hours after I left him. He told me before we arrived at Cairo that he was twenty-seven years of age, and his friends lived in Norwich, Connecticut, near New London, I think. There are many particulars concerning his death, which would be interesting to his friends, but I have no time to write them now.

On Sunday morning, October 24, a good while before day, I arose from sleep, and went out of the city as soon as the gates were opened, crossed the brook Kedron, and went upon the Mount of Olives, and there, in solemn silence, with pen, ink, and paper, just as I saw in the vision, offered up the following prayer to Him who lives forever and ever --

          Prayer of Orson Hyde on the Mount of Olives

"O Thou! who art from everlasting to everlasting, eternally and unchangeably the same, even the God who rules in the heavens above, and controls the destinies of men on the earth, wilt Thou not condescend, through thine infinite goodness and royal favor, to listen to the prayer of Thy servant which he this day offers up unto Thee in the name of Thy holy child Jesus, upon this land, where the Son of Righteousness set in blood, and thine Anointed One expired.

"Be pleased, O Lord, to forgive all the follies, weaknesses, vanities, and sins of Thy servant, and strengthen him to resist all future temptations. Give him prudence and discernment that he may avoid the evil, and a heart to choose the good; give him fortitude to bear up under trying and adverse circumstances, and grace to endure all things for Thy name's sake, until the end shall come, when all the Saints shall rest in peace.

"Now, O Lord! Thy servant has been obedient to the heavenly vision which Thou gavest him in his native land; and under the shadow of Thine outstretched arm, he has safely arrived in this place to dedicate and consecrate this land unto Thee, for the gathering together of Judah's scattered remnants, according to the predictions of the holy Prophets -- for the building up of Jerusalem again after it has been trodden down by the Gentiles so long, and for rearing a Temple in honor of Thy name. Everlasting thanks be ascribed unto Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast preserved Thy servant from the dangers of the seas, and from the plague and pestilence which have caused the land to mourn. The violence of man has also been restrained, and Thy providential care by night and by day has been exercised over Thine unworthy servant. Accept, therefore, O Lord, the tribute of a grateful heart for all past favors, and be pleased to continue Thy kindness and mercy towards a needy worm of the dust.

"O Thou, Who didst covenant with Abraham, Thy friend, and who didst renew that covenant with Isaac, and confirm the same with Jacob with an oath, that Thou wouldst not only give them this land for an everlasting inheritance, but that Thou wouldst also remember their seed forever. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have long since closed their eyes in death, and made the grave their mansion. Their children are scattered and dispersed abroad among the nations of the Gentiles like sheep that have no shepherd, and are still looking forward for the fulfillment of those promises which Thou didst make concerning them; and even this land, which once poured forth nature's richest bounty, and flowed, as it were, with milk and honey, has, to a certain extent, been smitten with barrenness and sterility since it drank from murderous hands the blood of Him who never sinned.

"Grant, therefore, O Lord, in the name of Thy well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to remove the barrenness and sterility of this land, and let springs of living water break forth to water its thirsty soil. Let the vine and olive produce in their strength, and the fig-tree bloom and flourish. Let the land become abundantly fruitful when possessed by its rightful heirs; let it again flow with plenty to feed the returning prodigals who come home with a spirit of grace and supplication; upon it let the clouds distil virtue and richness, and let the fields smile with plenty. Let the flocks and the herds greatly increase and multiply upon the mountains and the hills; and let Thy great kindness conquer and subdue the unbelief of Thy people. Do Thou take from them their stony heart, and give them a heart of flesh; and may the Sun of Thy favor dispel the cold mists of darkness which have beclouded their atmosphere. Incline them to gather in upon this land according to Thy word. Let them come like clouds and like doves to their windows. Let the large ships of the nations bring them from the distant isles; and let kings become their nursing fathers, and queens with motherly fondness wipe the tear of sorrow from their eye.

"Thou, O Lord, did once move upon the heart of Cyrus to show favor unto Jerusalem and her children. Do Thou now also be pleased to inspire the hearts of kings and the powers of the earth to look with a friendly eye towards this place, and with a desire to see Thy righteous purposes executed in relation thereto. Let them know that it is Thy good pleasure to restore the kingdom unto Israel -- raise up Jerusalem as its capital, and constitute her people a distinct nation and government, with David Thy servant, even a descendant from the loins of ancient David to be their king.

"Let that nation or that people who shall take an active part in behalf of Abraham's children, and in the raising up of Jerusalem, find favor in Thy sight. Let not their enemies prevail against them, neither let pestilence or famine overcome them, but let the glory of Israel overshadow them, and the power of the Highest protect them; while that nation or kingdom that will not serve Thee in this glorious work must perish, according to Thy word --- Yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

"Though Thy servant is now far from his home, and from the land bedewed with his earliest tear, yet he remembers, O Lord, his friend: who are there, and family, whom for Thy sake he has left. Though poverty and privation be our earthly lot, yet ah! do Thou richly endow us with an inheritance where moth and rust do not corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.

"The hands that have fed, clothed, or shown favor unto the family of Thy servant in his absence, or that shall hereafter do so, let them not lose their reward, but let a special blessing rest upon them, and in Thy kingdom let them have an inheritance when Thou shalt come to be glorified in this society.

"Do Thou also look with favor upon all those through whose liberality I have been enabled to come to this land; and in the day when Thou shalt reward all people according to their works, let these also not be passed by or forgotten, but in time let them be in readiness to enjoy the glory of those mansions which Jesus has gone to prepare. Particularly do Thou bless the stranger in Philadelphia, whom I never saw, but who sent me gold, with a request that I should pray for him in Jerusalem. Now, O Lord, let blessings come upon him from an unexpected quarter, and let his basket be filled, and his storehouse abound with plenty, and let not the good things of the earth be his only portion, but let him be found among those to whom it shall be said, `Thou hast been faithful over a few things, and I will make thee ruler over many.'

"O my Father in heaven! I now ask Thee in the name of Jesus to remember Zion, with all her Stakes, and with all her assemblies. She has been grievously afflicted and smitten; she has mourned; she has wept; her enemies have triumphed, and have said, `Ah, where is thy God?' Her Priests and Prophets have groaned in chains and fetters within the gloomy walls of prisons, while many were slain, and now sleep in the arms of death. How long, O Lord, shall iniquity triumph, and sin go unpunished?

"Do Thou arise in the majesty of Thy strength, and make bare Thine arm in behalf of Thy people. Redress their wrongs, and turn their sorrow into joy. Pour the spirit of light and knowledge, grace and wisdom, into the hearts of her Prophets, and clothe her Priests with salvation. Let light and knowledge march forth through the empire of darkness, and may the honest in heart flow to their standard, and join in the march to go forth to meet the Bridegroom.

"Let a peculiar blessing rest upon the Presidency of Thy Church, for at them are the arrows of the enemy directed. Be Thou to them a sun and a shield, their strong tower and hiding place; and in the time of distress or danger be Thou near to deliver. Also the quorum of the Twelve, do Thou be pleased to stand by them for Thou knowest the obstacles which they have to encounter, the temptations to which they are exposed, and the privations which they must suffer. Give us, [the Twelve] therefore, strength according to our day, and help us to bear a faithful testimony of Jesus and His Gospel, to finish with fidelity and honor the work which Thou hast given us to do, and then give us a place in Thy glorious kingdom. And let this blessing rest upon every faithful officer and member in Thy Church. And all the glory and honor will we ascribe unto God and the Lamb forever and ever. Amen."

---

On the top of Mount Olives I erected a pile of stones as a witness according to ancient custom. On what was anciently called Mount Zion, [Moriah?] where the Temple stood, I erected another, and used the rod according to the prediction upon my head.

I have found many Jews who listened with intense interest. The idea of the Jews being restored to Palestine is gaining ground in Europe almost every day. Jerusalem is strongly fortified with many cannon upon its walls. The wall is ten feet thick on the sides that would be most exposed, and four or five feet where the descent from the wall is almost perpendicular. The number of inhabitants within the walls is about twenty thousand. About seven thousand of this number are Jews, the balance being mostly Turks and Armenians. Many of the Jews who are old go to this place to die, and many are coming from Europe into this eastern world. The great wheel is unquestionably in motion, and the word of the Almighty has declared that it shall roll.

I have not time to write particulars now, but suffice it to say that my mission has been quite as prosperous as I could expect.

I am now about to go on board a fine ship for Trieste, and from thence I intend to proceed to Regensburg and there publish our faith in the German language. There are those who are ready and willing to assist me.

I send you this letter by Captain Withers, an English gentleman, who goes direct to England, on board the Oriental steamer. He has come with me from Jerusalem. If I had money sufficient I should be almost tempted to take passage on board of her to England, but this I cannot do.

On receipt of this, I wish you to write to me immediately, and direct to Regensburg, on the Danube, Bayern, or Bavaria. If you know anything of my family tell me.

My best respects to yourself and your family, to Brothers Adams and Snow, and to all the Saints in England.

May grace, mercy and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, rest upon you all from this time, henceforth and for ever. Amen. Your brother in Christ, ORSON HYDE.

5.

(1 Corinthians 13:1+; Moroni 7:37-48; Alma 7:23-24;

Matt.23:23-39; Luke 11:34-54)

     Looking at a faith continuum of faith, hope, and charity, to arrive at the last, one must first muster up a hope, or "plant a seed," that there is a hope for fallen Man through a Redeemer. (Alma 32:26-43)    That hope leads to faith in Christ, which leads to a real hope in Christ, which leads to charity, or the love of Christ.  Charity is the most typical quality God possesses, so if anyone possess all His other qualities and characteristics, and lacks charity it is as though he is only a "show disciple," an empty shell, or "a sounding brass and tinkling cymbal." (1 Cor.13:1)    God and Christ never cease to have charity, whether they destroy the wicked, or bless the righteous.   Charity is the "pure love of Christ" (Moro.7:47), having the long-term welfare of an individual in mind.   To have charity, a man or woman must first be "meek and lowly of heart" (Moro.7:42, 43), meaning teachable, or ruled by God.

     Charity is a consolidation of several godly qualities, as the scriptures above list:

• [Charity] suffereth long—endures injury, hurt, or provocation long and patiently, not quick to judge or punish.
• Is kind—considerate, merciful, helpful, and gracious, serves others.
• Envieth not—does not covet or begrudge others of what they have.
• Is not puffed up—is not vain, proud, arrogant, nor haughty.
• Seeketh not her own—is not selfish, not self-aggrandizing, not intrusive, not self-imposing.
• Vaunteth not itself—is not brazen, does not utter empty words, does not brag.
• Does not behave unseemly—acts appropriately, prudent, does not offend the Spirit of the Lord, does not violate the laws of God, "wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove."
• Not easily provoked—exhibits self-control, self-mastery, not volatile or pugnacious.
• Thinketh no evil—does not devise lies, is not malicious or deceitful. 
• Rejoiceth not in iniquity—does not tolerate sin, rejects evil in all its forms, is intelligent. (D&C 93:36,37)
• Rejoiceth in truth—loves the Spirit of Truth, the Savior; loves plain facts and accuracy.
• Beareth all things—does not complain or murmur because of trials, hardships, tribulations, and inconveniences.
• Believeth all things—has an open mind for Truth, is meek or teachable, especially when it comes to believing God.
• Hopeth all things—is optimistic, forward-looking, especially regarding the Lord’s promises of salvation through His gospel.
• Endureth all things—endures to the end of mortality (in faith in Christ and repentance), steady, unwavering, has staying power, does not give up, determined to serve God at all costs. 

 4.

ONLY ONE GOSPEL, AND "MORMONS" TEACH IT

(Approximately 1 1/2 typewritten pages)

The Bible contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but the elements of the gospel in the Bible are so dispersed that few recognize them for what they really are. (Matt.4:23; Acts.20:24; 2 Tim.1:8-11; D&C 10:45-46)   The Book of Mormon published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and some others) also contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (3 Ne.11:31-41; 27:13-22; D&C 18:4-5; 20:9; 27:5; 39:5-6; 42:12; 76:4-42; 88:17-22)   One purpose of the Book of Mormon is to restore to men a clear knowledge of the gospel, as well as to act as another witness for Christ. In both Books, the gospel is referred to by a multitude of names, all meaning the exact same thing, some of which are glad tidings of great joy, redemption, redemption through his blood, salvation, knowledge of salvation, your consolation and salvation, escape…great salvation, great joy and salvation, gospel of baptism, gospel of repentance, law of Christ, doctrine of Christ, plan of salvation, plan of redemption, "our report" (Is.53:1; Rom.10:15-16), plan of happiness, covenant, new covenant, new and everlasting covenant, and even the "good news," taken from root word meanings.

In a capsule, the gospel of Jesus Christ encompasses the fall of Adam** and the coming of Christ to compensate for (1) spiritual death, or separation, from God and (2) physical death, or the grave, both resulting from the fall of Adam. (1 Cor.15:22; Mos.3:19; Alma 22:13; Mor.9:11-14)    The points comprising His gospel are these:

1. The Fall of man and his double predicament, "bad news." (1 Cor.15:22; Mosiah 3:19)

2. The Eternal Judgment of all men, "bad news." (Morm.3:20)

3. The Atonement or propitiation of Christ, "good news." (Rom.3:3:25; 1 Jn.2:2; 4:10; Morm.2:12)

4. The universal Resurrection, "good news." (1 Cor.15:12-42; Jn.11:25; 2 Ne.9:6-22; Mos.15:20-26; Alma 40:1-21)

5. The need for Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Gal.3:2-26; Heb.11:1-39; Ether 12:3-37; Moro.7:1-44)

6. The need for Repentance, including a broken heart and contrite spirit and a rebirth of the Spirit. (Matt.12:29,32; Rev.2:5-22; 1 Sam.15:29, 35; Alma 42:4-31; Hel.13:2-39; Moro.8:8-28)

7. The need for Baptism by immersion in water by an authorized agent for the remission of sins and to enter into a covenant with God. (Matt.20:22-23; Mark 1:4; Acts 19:3-4; Rom.6:4; Eph.4:5; Col.2:12; 2 Ne.3:13-17; 3 Ne.11:22-28; Moro.6:1-4; 8:25)

8. The laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost by an authorized agent. (Acts 8:15-19; Heb.6:2; Luke 1:67; Acts 1:2-16; 10:38-47; 13:2-9,52; D&C 20:41,69,73; 1 Ne.10:11-22; 2 Ne.31:8-21; 3 Ne.11:25-36; 18:36-37; 19:9-22)

9. The necessity of Enduring to the End in Faith in Christ and continued Repentance from sin, until the death of the mortal body. (Matt.24:13; Mark 13:13; James 5:11; 1 Ne.13:37; 2 Ne.9:24; 2 Ne.31:16,20; 33:9; 3 Ne.27:13-22)

The gospel is not all the teachings of the Messiah.  There are others, such as those He gave in His Great Sermon, the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 and in 3 Nephi 12-14, to members of His church to direct their daily lives.  The gospel is only that portion of His teachings sufficient to overcome the effects of the fall on man, that is, cause the Savior to "answer the ends of the law" (Rom.10:4; 2 Ne.2:7) for individuals, and bring them back into the presence of God to enjoy eternal life, or the life of the Great Eternal God.  The other teachings co-ordinate with and instruct fallen mortals how to live as Christ does, as well as how to "go on unto perfection" (Heb.6:1-3) or partake of the "meat" of His teachings, in addition to the "milk," and are part of enduring to the end of mortal life. (1 Cor.3:2; Heb.5:12-13; 1 Pet.2:2; D&C 19:22)   Some teachings involve the temple, central to the life of the man or woman in Christ. (See references to the temple in the Old and New Testaments and elsewhere.)

**Note: The Founding Fathers of the United States of America were well aware of the fallen nature of man, and constituted a temporal government to accommodate it.

3.

QUESTION: Do "Mormons" believe Jesus and Satan are brothers?

(approximately 5 typewritten pages)

A: Being middle-aged and familiar with doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or "Mormons," I must confess I have never heard the above exact idea taught in any latter-day saint meeting.  That leads me to conclude that it is at best an extrapolation, or a conclusion Protestants, and maybe Catholics, draw from other ideas latter-day saints espouse.  It seems to be accentuated and spread by people, even by some church ministers having a facile familiarity with, but woefully lacking in an in-depth comprehension of the Bible.  Those people seem to experience exhilaration in latching onto one idea so preposterous in their minds that it easily impeaches all of "Mormonism" in one easy stroke.  So, let’s look at Bible teachings on the subject.  And I add that those who actually study the Bible tend to have a high degree of agreement on what it means. Mormons are no exception, understanding the Bible as well, or even better than their critics.  We will proceed upon the presumption the Scriptures are true, in full agreement with the best Bible scholar in England of his day, Isaac Newton.  We will seek to understand as he did what God meant when He revealed His words, not whether they are true.  And, presumably, a long answer is best for those not particularly familiar with some Bible teachings.

Certainly in the Old Testament (Old Covenant), one example of sibling rivalry from birth is Jacob and Esau, wherein the older twin, Esau, had fully decided to end Jacob’s life over Jacob’s inspired guile to obtain the patriarchal birthright from the older, in exchange for "bread and pottage of lentils." (Gen.25:33)   The birthright, of course, was the right to priesthood power, the right of presidency, or leadership, in spiritual matters, which Esau did not value sufficiently, he being a man of the world, a hunter, and an athlete.  Additionally, he had already married contrary to his parents’ wishes. (Gen. 26:34-35)   Esau relented in his anger when Jacob upon his return years later gave Esau even more material things, mostly livestock. (Gen. 33:11)   The brothers became ancestors to rival nations, the Edomites and Israelites.

That birthright eventually came to Joseph who was sold for money by his envious older brothers to Ishmeelites on their way to Egypt (Gen. 37:25), whereupon the birthright came to Ephraim, the son of Joseph. (Gen. 49:22-26)   Jesus had the same authority, both because He was the agent of His Father and the Son of God, and because He was part Ephraimite and part Jew.  Paul in the Book of Hebrews meticulously explains why Jesus could officiate in lower priesthood duties belonging by birthright to Levites, because Jesus had the high priesthood authority of Melchizedek, or Shem, son of Noah, which trumped other priesthood authority. (Heb. 7)

Another prime Biblical example of malevolence toward a brother is that of Cain toward Abel. (Gen. 14:16)   The younger Abel was a righteous priest, who offered a proper burnt offering in similitude of the Lamb of God to come at a future time to propitiate for the sins of Adam’s repentant posterity. (1 Jn. 2:3)   That happened according to the New Testament (New Covenant).  It should be pointed out that the Lord God of the Old Testament giving commandments to Adam regarding sacrifices was one and the same Son of God or Holy One of Israel that later took on a body of flesh when He became the Babe of Bethlehem, the son of Mary and Joseph. (Isaiah 53; Luke 2)   Faithless Cain, by contrast, offered up roots and vegetables not specified as proper offerings, and God did not respect him for it. (Deut. 15:19-23)

Simply put, God the Father and His Son demand that mortals worship them as they want to be worshipped, not just any old way, specifically "in spirit and in truth." (Jn. 4:23-24)   In fact, a conversion to Christ entails two areas of conformity, (1) conversion to the doctrines of Christ and (2) practicing His methods of worship.  Only Christians sing melodic hymns, for example, and partake of the sacrament of the Lord’s supper. (Matt. 26:26; Acts 2:42)

Satan, that great evil spirit and prince of this world, saw Cain’s pride, dissatisfaction, and rebellion against prescribed methods of worship, and tempted Cain to not only get even with Abel, but urged Cain to murder his brother to obtain his flocks and lands. (Jn. 8:44; 12:31; Heb. 11:4; 1 Jn. 3:12; Rev. 12:9; 14:4-9; 2 Ne. 2:18; D&C 29:36-38)   But before Cain committed the act, the Lord warned him in a direct revelation the step he was about to take would destroy his salvation, making him subject to the devil, who is "the son of perdition," or of the category of those completely ruined. (Jn. 17:12; 2 Thes. 2:3; 3 Ne. 27:32; D&C 76:26,32,43)   Cain did it anyway, willfully, with full knowledge of his sin, and brought a curse upon himself. (Gen. 4:12-15)   Therefore, Satan, the enemy of righteousness, the deceiver, and "accuser of our brethren" (Rev. 12:10) succeeded in making Cain miserable like himself.

If anyone were to see Satan, he would appear as a handsome, eloquent, and persuasive man, able to cite scripture to make his point seem plausible. (Matt.4:1-11)   But when Satan is fully exposed at a future date, people will stare at him and wonder how such a one could reek so much havoc and misery in the earth. (Is. 14:12-16)   M. Russell Ballard stated, "Satan is not clever because he is smart, but because he is old."  According to the Bible, in time, there will be a complete and permanent triumph over all evil through the Lord Jesus Christ, the great champion of righteousness. (Rev. 12:11)

There are other examples in scripture of family disputes, kingly intrigues, and many wars.  Even the Book of Mormon begins with long-running, even violent family disagreements, resulting in two warring nations originating with one group of righteous brothers fending off another group of unrighteous brothers. (1 N. 1+)

The English word devil is used to translate a variety of Greek and Hebrew words meaning slanderer, demon, adversary, and spoiler.  The Bible tells us that at one time, Satan, or Lucifer, was a literal spirit son of God, "an angel" or servant in authority in the presence of God.  According to Bible accounts, he was expelled from the presence of God for his desire to exercise authority or unjust dominion over others there, becoming the great enemy of Christ and the Father’s free-will plan of redemption, seeking to destroy the souls of men, and attempting to possess the physical bodies of mortals. (Rev. 12:3-17; Matt.9:32; 12:22; Mark 1:24; 5:7; Luke 8:30; Acts 19:15; Mosiah 3:6)

While the Apostle John was banished to the Isle of Patmos by oppressive Roman government officials for preaching about Christ, he was shown in vision the history of heaven before his time, plus the earth’s history during his time and in the future.  John records a great "war" of ideas took place in heaven, those for individual liberty against authoritarians. (2 Th. 2:2-4; Rev. 12:7) Satan, or Lucifer, " a son of the morning," fell from his glory, causing the heavens to weep. (Is. 14:12)   And he spawned a rebellion joined my many like himself dedicated to unseating God and replacing the divine principle of free moral choice with one of force and compulsion. (Is. 14:13-15; 2 Th. 2:2-4)   He was opposed by Christ and Michael, and was cast out with one third of the host ("stars") of heaven into the earth where he chose to be the destroyer and anti-Christ. (Rev. 12:9; 1 Jn. 2:18-22; 4:3; 2 Ne. 2:18; Mosiah 16:3)   Even now he "reigns with blood and horror," inspiring despots, teaching hate, deceiving humans, and bringing to pass every kind of suffering and perversion imaginable.

Clearly, Satan and his spirit followers readily recognized Jesus as the Messiah when He appeared in the flesh. (Matt.8:28-34)   One instance was the time Jesus cast the devils out of a tormented man, and consented to allow the expelled spirits to possess the bodies of swine nearby, knowing they would all go crazy and drown themselves in the sea. (Matt. 5:13)   That’s because demons are insane, existing as they do out of harmony with the God of truth and life.  It is insanity to be out of touch with reality.  One aspect of damnation for Satan and his host is to remain without mortal bodies forever.  Just how many devils there are is a closely guarded secret of the kingdom of hell, speculates Whittaker Chambers in his famous Feb., 1948 Time Magazine article titled "The Devil." The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis is a similar treatment.

Otherwise, the devils serve God indirectly by tempting, proving, and damning corrupt mortals, or by saving those able to resist evil enticements.  The moral agency of mortal humans consists of (1) following Christ or Messiah, or (2) following the devil.  Many frankly love Satan more than God, among which can be counted Cain, many of the Jews during the ministry of Jesus, and no end of other people before and after His mortal ministry.  Jesus even said Satan, not Abraham, was the father of many prominent ancient Jews, because "ye believe me not." (Jn. 8:42-45; Rev. 13:4)   Strongly testifying God was His Father, Jesus alluded to the fact that He, as a spirit being, pre-dated Abraham. (Jn. 8:58)   Elsewhere recorded, mortal men also had a previous spirit existence. (Gen. 1:26-28; Is. 44:2; 48:8; Jer. 1:5; Rev. 12:7; Luke 2:13)

So, why didn’t the Lord God prevent Cain from murdering Abel?  Better yet, why didn’t He prevent Satan from tempting Cain? (Gen. 4:18)   For the same reason he allows all men to be tempted, even Himself. (Matt. 27:40; Luke 4:3; Heb. 5:8)   God miraculously created the Earth to perpetuate His own race, making copies of Himself through His children.  He would be nothing without His children.  At some time or another, He offers all mankind the life He leads, Eternal life, or the life of the Great Eternal God. (Jn. 17:3)   Some want it, and enter in the strait and narrow way on the path to the Tree of Life, while many more take the broad road, being their own gods, being "a law unto themselves," or being their own standard of right and wrong, and trusting their own judgment. (Matt. 7:14; 1 Cor. 2:9; Rev. 21:10, 22; 22:5)

Concurrent with God’s existence is His eternal attribute of moral agency, a very substantial divine attribute, like charity. Charity, or long-term concern for the welfare of another’s soul, is such an important attribute of God and Christ that if anyone possesses every other attribute of God, and lacks charity, he is as an empty shell. (1 Cor. 13)   Likewise, God would cease to be God if He disallowed men their freedom of choice in moral things.  Then He would be like the devil. Generally, anyone wanting salvation may have it, if he pays the price of giving up his sins, or if he forsakes the devil.  It follows, therefore, that God commands all men and women to repent and worship Him, to choose Him, but allows them to refuse. (Ex. 35:5; Matt. 25:31-46; Luke 10:25-37; John 7:17; James 1:25-27; 2:12-26; Mor. 7:8)   David O. McKay, a late president of the Church of Jesus Christ, taught that it is the sublimest gift of God to allow men and women the right of choice.  It is the devil, Satan, or Lucifer that denies liberty and moral agency, he being an arrogant, authoritarian tyrant, a despot, a hate-filled, murderer, while God is the Perfect Gentleman, never forcing Himself on anyone—people must invite Him into their lives.  He waits at the door for our invitation. (Rev. 3:20; M. Russell Ballard, Sunday evening sermon, SLC, Utah, circa Nov., 2007)

God and His Christ are real beings. (1 Jn. 3:2)   The devil is a real being, as well. (Is. 14:16) Both have human forms and many attributes shared by humans.  All accounts of seeing God or His messengers describe them as having human forms. (Gen. 35:9-10; Job 42:1-6; Jn. 1:12-15; 14:8-11; Acts 1:3; 2:1, 32; 4:20; 7:56; 11:13; 12:7, 11-13; 1 Cor. 15:6; James 1; Heb. 2:16; 2 Pet. 1:16-21; JS 1+)   Of course it is not wise to speak often of the devil, as it may invite his presence.  Certainly evil spirits are nearby when mortals are tempted to do anything contrary to the will of God. Because they superstitiously talk about unclean spirits, American Indian tribes and primitive jungle people in South America and elsewhere have frequent trouble with evil spirits or demons, as do those who adopt their many dark philosophies as means to bring about "change" in the world.  Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler were willing to murder millions to bring about their Satanic religions of Communism and National Socialism, to name only two perpetrators of the devil’s doctrines, out of "legion." (Mark 5:9)   And how many people suffered under their unjust authority! Strangely, America’s public school and university policies have by and large adopted the philosophy of "the son of perdition," teaching young people, backed by such ant-Christ organizations such as the ACLU, to be their own gods, and to defy societal foundations built upon the Ten Commandments. (Ex. 20; Matt. 19)

According to the Bible, God the Father; His Son, the Messiah or Jehovah; the spirits of men; angels, which are servants or messengers—many of them righteous spirits of men, some even with resurrected bodies; and Satan and his angels (servants) had an existence before the Earth we stand on was created, or better said, was organized. (Is. 48:8; Jer. 1:5; Rev. 12:7)   Obviously, all were spiritually created, or organized as individuals, before they were physically created.  All beings were spirits before God gave them mortal bodies or "temples" for their spirits. (Gen. 1+; Matt 27:40; 1 Cor. 3:16)   Satan and his servants are denied such temples, damning them to their spirit state.  The Bible plainly teaches that God created the heavens and the earth and all things therein, and that He knows all things.  If all things include organized beings, then God created Satan and his followers.  It’s a simple syllogism anyone can understand. (Gen. 1+; Matt. 6:8,30; 1 Jn. 3:20; 1 Ne. 9:6; 2 Ne. 9:20)

Clearly, God created or organized their spirit bodies, but they made themselves devils by how they employed the moral free agency He also gave them.  Because of their actions, they were expelled from the presence of God.  And after they had forfeited their salvation, that is, foolishly destroyed themselves, bringing down the indignation of a just God upon them, they immediately set about to induce all others to destroy their salvation as well. Presumably, devils, or evil spirits, could cease to be such, but they are liars, know they are liars, and love it, as are so many mortal humans who partake of their spiritual degeneracy. (Matt. 24; John 8:44; 2 Tim. 3:1-14; Rev. 20:10)   God has decreed that every man or woman brings his or her condemnation upon himself or herself by listing to obey the devil. (Jn. 3:19; Alma 3:19; Moro. 7:19)   On the day of judgment, better yet, on the day of self-judgment, every person will instantly know which of the two, and to what degree, he has served his spiritual master and lawgiver, whether it be the "Shepherd and Bishop of your souls," or the adversary. (Rev. 14:10; 21:8; 1 Pet. 2:25; 2 Ne. 28:23; 29:16-26, 46)   Furthermore, all salvation is individual, not by group or committee, and is dependent on how each individual exercises his moral agency. (Matt. 7:2)   Missionaries scour the world looking for individuals to bring to salvation.

Are Jesus and Satan brothers?  Are Josef Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Idi Amin, Mao Tse Tung, Henry VIII, Sadam Hussein, and any number of flagrant breakers of God’s laws your "brothers"?  Certainly Germany, Austria, Italy, England, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Finland, and other countries are kindred nations.  But do they share the evil philosophy of Hitler and Stalin?  Would they want to bestow the title "brother" on anyone who disregarded human life as much as those two?

While the same Eternal Father organized Jesus and Satan, Jesus does not consider the devil His "brother," disclaiming any philosophical, mental, or spiritual kinship, and plainly saying so, and plainly condemning anyone supporting Satan. (Jn. 8:44)   Their differences, not their similarities are significant.  Jesus even goes so far as to say only those that hearken to His Father are His brothers and sisters, regardless of how else they may be related. (Matt. 12:50; 19:29; Jn.10:27)   Jesus demonstrates complete, uncompromising determination to defeat evil, and treats Satan as a treacherous and dangerous inferior on the loose for a time.  When Satan stirred up the rebellion in heaven, the Father, His Only Begotten Son-to-be, and Michael let the dissension go on just long enough to become a well-defined division, wherein all the individual spirits of prospective mortals took a side, then Christ and all His allies unceremoniously "cleaned house," ejecting the trouble-makers with extreme prejudice. (Rev. 12:7-10)   Any sorrow and weeping by the hosts of heaven at the expulsion had to do with seeing those with such great potential throw it all away for naught.  No doubt, a great feeling of relief accompanied Satan’s departure, as with any rude, disruptive, and combative houseguest.  By sinning against perfect knowledge of God and His purposes, those expelled spirits adequately demonstrated they were utterly ruined ("perdition"), and would never be candidates for a kingdom of glory. (Is. 14:12; 1 Cor. 15:39-42)   So, possessing supreme charity and intelligence, the noble and great ones did what they had to do to preserve their society.  It is, in fact, the divine measure of character, integrity, or intelligence to be able to forsake the devil. (Job 2:3; 27:2-6; 31:6; Prov. 20:7; D&C 93:36+)   By contrast, the devil has no intelligence, nor character, as the scriptures define it.  He is unquestionably the enemy of Jesus, in philosophy or religion, in personal integrity, and in every other way, and is constantly tormenting the children of God, and leading them to destruction. (Jn. 8:49; Mos. 4:14)   Obviously, Jesus is not a diplomat, not "a big ball of honey," nor a deal-maker with evil people (Matt. 12:50; Mark 3:35), and He prophesies yet another "great division among the people." (Jn. 7:43; 2 Ne. 30:10)   Jesus is kind and gentle, but hard-nosed about keeping His commandments. When the wicked leave Him no other choice, "as for our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts (armies) is His name, the Holy One of Israel." (1 Sam. 17:45; Ps. 24:10; Is. 2:12; 47:4)

Jesus is still completely dedicated to establishing and defending the life He and His Father lead, at all costs.  So Jesus and Satan are complete opposites.  Jesus is a Creator and a supporter of human life, and Satan is a destroyer of the same.   The whole purpose of the final judgment of all men and women is to place them in categories or grades of reward, according to their philosophies and deeds toward God and other humans, solely determined by how they employ their freedom of choice in pursuing the life God leads. (Matt. 25:31-46; Jn. 5:27; 1 Cor. 15:39-42)   The wise will have relied on the merits of Christ or Messiah, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide. (Matt. 25:1-13)   The rest will be trusting in their "good works" for salvation, making them responsible for "the ends of the law," or punishments, they merit. (Rom. 2:12-27; 3:19-31; 7:1-25; 2 Ne. 2:7-10)

Whether or not mortals or anyone is "clean," or sin-free, before God is ultimately not about men, but about God.  He must accept the individual as "justified" and sinless before he or she can be in His presence.  Since He, the King of Heaven, is the only one offering repentance, freedom from guilt, and a glorious resurrection, He sets the terms for obtaining these benefits.  He does so by covenant making and keeping, to which He is a willing party. (Gen. 6;18; Ex. 19:5; Matt. 26:28; Acts 3:25; Eph. 2:12; Heb. 8:6; 12:24; 13:20)   If men repent and rely on the sinless Messiah, He, God, cleanses the souls of men.  If He does not do that, they remain sin laden, and cannot be in His presence.  If they refuse to rely on the good works and righteousness of the Son, they default to depending on their own spotty good works and righteousness. (Ez. 36:25-28; Acts 11:9; Rom. 1:24-32; Eph. 5:5-7; 1 Ne. 10:21)

The main objective of Jesus for "answering the ends of the law," or enduring vicariously the punishments He affixed to the law is so He could balance within Himself the Godly attributes of justice (punishment) and mercy. (Ps. 8:14; Alma 42:15-27; 3 Ne. 25:25-27)   That balance allows Him to still punish unrepentant sinners, but let repentant sinners escape, and return to His immediate presence as in the beginning. (Is. 64:4; 1 Cor. 2:9)   Therefore, He commands all men and women to obey His gospel, and be born again, or be changed by the Spirit, following complete repentance. (John 3:, 37; Alma 7:14; Moses 6:59, 60; Mark 1:1, 14-15; Rom. 1:16; 2 Tim. 1:8, 10; 1 Th. 1:4-9; 1 Pet. 4:6, 17; 3 Ne. 27:13-22)   He also commands them to strive to be perfect as He and His Father are perfect. (Matt. 5:48; 3 Ne. 12:48)   And if men keep His commandments, His blessings are sure. (Matt. 5, 6; Heb. 6:13; 3 Ne. 12, 13; D&C 82:10) ----- A. F. Publius

 www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59168  links to the directly following published statement and Official Website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (www.lds.org) 

How can Jesus and Lucifer be spirit brothers when their characters and purposes are so utterly opposed?

Jess L. Christensen, “I Have a Question,” Ensign, June 1986, 25–26

Jess L. Christensen, Institute of Religion director at Utah State University, Logan, Utah. On first hearing, the doctrine that Lucifer and our Lord, Jesus Christ, are brothers may seem surprising to some—especially to those unacquainted with latter-day revelations. But both the scriptures and the prophets affirm that Jesus Christ and Lucifer are indeed offspring of our Heavenly Father and, therefore, spirit brothers. Jesus Christ was with the Father from the beginning. Lucifer, too, was an angel “who was in authority in the presence of God,” a “son of the morning.” (See Isa. 14:12; D&C 76:25–27.) Both Jesus and Lucifer were strong leaders with great knowledge and influence. But as the Firstborn of the Father, Jesus was Lucifer’s older brother. (See Col. 1:15; D&C 93:21.)

How could two such great spirits become so totally opposite? The answer lies in the principle of agency, which has existed from all eternity. (See D&C 93:30–31.) Of Lucifer, the scripture says that because of rebellion “he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies.” (Moses 4:4.) Note that he was not created evil, but became Satan by his own choice.

When our Father in Heaven presented his plan of salvation, Jesus sustained the plan and his part in it, giving the glory to God, to whom it properly belonged. Lucifer, on the other hand, sought power, honor, and glory only for himself. (See Isa. 14:13–14; Moses 4:1–2.) When his modification of the Father’s plan was rejected, he rebelled against God and was subsequently cast out of heaven with those who had sided with him. (See Rev. 12:7–9; D&C 29:36–37.)

That brothers would make dramatically different choices is not unusual. It has happened time and again, as the scriptures attest: Cain chose to serve Satan; Abel chose to serve God. (See Moses 5:16–18.) Esau “despised his birthright”; Jacob wanted to honor it. (Gen. 25:29–34.) Joseph’s brothers sought to kill him; he sought to preserve them. (Gen. 37:12–24; Gen. 45:3–11.)

It is ironic that the agency with which Lucifer rebelled is the very gift he tried to take from man. His proposal was that all be forced back into God’s presence. (See Moses 4:1, 3.) But the principle of agency is fundamental to the existence and progression of intelligent beings: as we make wise choices, we grow in light and truth. On the other hand, wrong choices—such as the one Satan made—stop progress and can even deny us blessings that we already have. (See D&C 93:30–36.)

In order for us to progress, therefore, we must have the opportunity to choose good or evil. Interestingly, Satan and his angels—those who opposed agency—have become that opposition. As the prophet Lehi taught, “Men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” (2 Ne. 2:27.)

Although the Father has allowed Satan and his angels to tempt mankind, he has given each of us the ability to rise above temptation. (See 1 Cor. 10:13.) He has also given us the great gift of the Atonement.

When the Lord placed enmity between Eve’s children and the devil, Satan was told that he would bruise the heel of Eve’s seed, but her seed would bruise his head. (See Moses 4:21.) President Joseph Fielding Smith explained that “the ‘God of peace,’ who according to the scriptures is to bruise Satan, is Jesus Christ.” (Answers to Gospel Questions, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957, 1:3.) Satan would bruise the Savior’s heel by leading men to crucify Him. But through his death and resurrection, Christ overcame death for all of us; and through his atonement, he offers each of us a way to escape the eternal ramifications of sin. Thus, Satan’s machinations have been frustrated and eventually he will be judged, bound, and cast into hell forever. (See Rev. 20:1–10; D&C 29:26–29.)

In Hebrew, the word bruise means “to crush or grind.” Therefore, the very heel that was bruised will crush Satan and will help us overcome the world and return to our Father. As we use our agency to choose good over evil, the atonement of Christ prepares the way for us to return to our Father in Heaven.

We can only imagine the sorrow of our Heavenly Father as he watched a loved son incite and lead a rebellion and lose his opportunity for exaltation. But we can also imagine the Father’s love and rejoicing as he welcomed back the beloved son who had valiantly and perfectly fought the battles of life and brought about the great Atonement through his suffering and death.

2. 

MORMON ACCOMPLISMENTS, THE MANY GOOD THINGS ABOUT "MORMONISM"

(approximately 2 typewritten pages)

Latter-day saints, or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, less correctly called "Mormons" because they accept the Book of Mormon together with and not as a replacement for the Bible, have a long history as positive contributors to the United States of America and other countries in the world. It is important to note in the first place that the Book of Mormon is as one retired Lutheran minister stated, "the most Christ-loving book I ever read," adding dimensions to the life and ministry of Christ not otherwise known. It is a lengthy tract arguing the position, by explicit examples and eyewitness observations, that people prosper if they worship Messiah, and suffer if they do not. That Book is the witness and test of Joseph Smith’s authenticity. In the second place, the latter-day saints believe more and can explain more of the Bible than anyone else, their explanations for Daniel, Isaiah, Hebrews, and the Revelation of St. John being only four of many examples.

Few, if any, such positive contributions like those that will follow were cited by Mitt Romney in his recent campaign speech for President on the subject of "faith," which speech, although lofty, did not mention the positive influences wrought by members of his church.

So-called "Mormonism" began in 1820 when the young Joseph Smith, Jr., whom Lawrence O’Donnell recently on national television called "a lying, fraudulent criminal," retired to a secluded forest grove to ask God which of the contentious Christian sects he should join, after having been greatly impressed with the Bible passage, James 1:5-8. It admonishes anyone needing wisdom to ask God for a revelation of His will, without fear of punishment. But the passage stipulates the necessity to ask in faith, without being double-minded, unstable, or wavering in the request. Joseph Smith claimed he received an answer from God, as the Bible scripture promised. The guiding principle here is that if it is possible anyone can receive an answer to prayer, why couldn’t Joseph Smith? Many others have made that claim, rich and poor, black, white, bond, and free.

The church presided over by Joseph Smith was formally organized in 1830 with six members, and now numbers between 13 and 14 million members worldwide, with approximately 22,000 houses of worship and some 120 temples, almost half of which are in the United States of America. Since its founding as a continuation of the primitive organization Jesus himself set up, many notable accomplishments useful to Americans and others can be claimed by Mormons. Among these are the settling of six western states in the United States, plus settlements in Canada and Mexico. Brigham Young led some 70,000 converts west over a period of only a few years. Many, such as those that perished in handcart companies on the Great Plains, came from England. Others came from Denmark, Sweden, and other European and Scandinavian countries. The son of a Danish Mormon immigrant later sculpted the faces of American presidents on Mount Rushmore.

For some of their "unorthodox" beliefs not shared by other heirs of the Reformation, early Mormons were severely persecuted. But even in their greatest distress, having been newly driven from their homes in the Nauvoo, Illinois, following other expulsions in Ohio and Missouri, the Mormons answered the call of their country to form a small army of 500 men and two women to march over uncharted territory to liberate California and much of the West from Mexico. In fact, the first governor of California was a Mormon, a Mormon Battalion enlistee, serving approximately three weeks, until a Federal officer could arrive to preside over the newly acquired territory. That same band of Mormons was present when gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill, some even working there at the time. One recorded the exact date of discovery in his journal, the only authoritative documentation. All the enlistees could have become fabulously wealthy, both in gold and in California lands, but they chose to walk away from it all to be obedient to and to join their spiritual leaders settled in Utah. But they left blazed trails for others to follow to reach California.

Jacob Hamblin, a faithful Mormon convert from Wisconsin sent by Brigham Young, along with a few others, to settle southern Utah, was the first white man to see and explore the Grand Canyon, not John Wesley Powell. In fact, he acted as a guide for Powell, since he had learned to speak the Indian languages of that area.

Las Vegas, Nevada; San Bernadino, California; many cities in Arizona; most of the cities in Utah; Fruitland and Kirtland, New Mexico; Mancos, Sanford, and Manassa, Colorado; and other places were first settled by Mormons. A descendent of Colorado Mormon settlers was Jack Dempsey, the famous "Manassa Mauler," who shortly before his death still confessed to Glenn L. Pearson, "I believe the Book of Mormon, and I pray every day."

Among the very first missionaries to what is now Tahaiti and surrounding islands were such Mormons as Noah Rogers, bringing a better life to isolated and ignorant people. In 1872, Brigham Young directed the purchase of a tract of land in Hawaii, now accommodating a temple, one of three church universities, and the Polynesian Cultural Center dedicated to preserving native traditions of the island peoples and employing young college students. Today, besides having 55,000 full-time missionaries intent on bringing the message of Christ’s redemption to all people, latter-day saints are well known for their relief efforts among those suffering from material needs in the United States and the rest of the world. Being highly organized, they exercise an influence disproportionate to their number.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has accumulated over the decades a huge genealogical record depository headquartered in Utah, among the very largest in the world. Its members computerized Ellis Island immigration records for easy access, and had a hand in organizing the Freedman’s Bank records, containing specifics on ancestors for up to one third of American black people. It should also come as no surprise that untold numbers of Mormons are direct descendents of important historical figures. Gordan B. Hinkley, President of the Church, is a direct descendent of Mayflower Pilgrim, Stephen Hopkins. Noah Rogers and his posterity claim to descend from John Rogers the Martyr, assistant to William Tyndale, translator of the Bible into English, both being former Catholic priests and both burned at the stake for their efforts to bring Bible understanding to common men in England. Henry VIII burned Tyndale, and Bloody Mary I burned Rogers, while his wife and children watched, facts featured in The New England Primer.

Latter-day saints are typically rational people found among the fallen posterity of Adam and Eve. Quick to adopt better ideas and strongly family oriented, they are a society, or collection, of skeptics, that is, they tend to disbelieve, or hold in abeyance popular beliefs, until they prove them for themselves. Once they are satisfied, they tend to believe deeply, and sacrifice greatly for their beliefs. An individual witness from God, similar to the one Joseph Smith, Jr. sought, is the backbone of the church.

Mormons have excelled in industry, business, agriculture, personal computers and calculators, and other inventiveness. Many are wealthy and influential. Any or all may be found quietly doing good. John M. Browning, son of the Nauvoo, Illinois gunmaker, Nathan Browning, produced superior firearms used by the U. S. Military to fight America’s wars. As his contribution to the war effort, Browning did not haggle with the government for high prices, but accepted usually low offers for his designs. Mormons have come to their country’s defense in every war since 1830, except the War Between the States. Even then, many capable men in that War, such as Captain John Morgan, later joined the latter-day saints, making their mark on both American and Mormon histories. In fact, Mormons consider the United States Constitution as originally framed tantamount to scripture. (See D&C 101)

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BOOK OF MORMON BASEBALL: 

The game for kids up to college and older is Book of Mormon Baseball. (Similar to Bible Baseball.)   It is bat country with no bats, no baseballs, nor baseball gloves, no baseball tickets, no baseball cards, no world series, no stadium, no need for Jackie Robinsion, Babe Ruth, Sports Illustrated, nor Fox Sports.  And only a few baseball rules apply to this board game.  A mobile game, among fantasy sports, it is the best of word games to occupy would be Yankees, Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves.  It is challenging and fun. 

This game is for all ages.  It has hundreds of questions, from easy ones to difficult.  Flexible scoring rules make it a can't lose undertaking.  As a result of playing, children, kids, as young as 6-8 years old have begun reading the BOOK OF MORMON, the most Christ-loving book ever published. (a Lutheran minister, quoted by Pearson) 

       Send now US 20.00 postage paid to: SEGO, 906 May Lane, Cortez, CO 81321.  Limited supply.  For a copy of The Book of Mormon, send US 5.00 postage paid to the above address.   For a FREE copy of the  Book of Mormon, call 1-888-537-2200.