FORMS
OF BONDAGE
by Kay Fairchild
D&C 101:79--Therefore, it is not right that any man should
be in bondage one to another.
D&C 123:7-8--The creeds of the fathers, who have inherited lies...is
now the mainspring of corruption, and the whole earth groans under the
weight of its iniquity...it is an iron yoke.
1. PHYSICAL BONDAGE
(a) Kidnapping.
(b) Slavery. (Mosiah 9:10, 11:21-25, 12:2)
(c) Addiction--Bondage to drugs or alcohol or aberrant behaviors, which
damage the mind, body and spirit of man, and makes men less receptive to
the Spirit of God. (I Cor. 3:16-17,
Mosiah 3:19)
2. FINANCIAL & ECONOMIC BONDAGE
(a) Economic Servitude--a small portion of society feels it deserves
the majority of the wealth while a large portion of the masses, the laboring
force, makes pittance.(Lev 25:14)
(b) The payment of minimum wage or below minimum wage to parents who
are supporting families, resulting in impoverished families. (Malachi 3:5)
(c) Lack of skills to achieve better economic standing.
(d) The bondage of Debt. (Nehemiah 5)
(e) Bondage of Extremely Heavy Taxation (Mosiah 11:3, I Kings 12:4)
(f) Americans could do much to encourage the prosperity of other nations
by paying an honest amount when importing products from foreign nations.
It is unfair that foreign workers should be subjected to impoverishing
wages or work conditions, either, therefore, it is our job to support those
products whose companies have fair work practices and fair wages (whether
at home or abroad).
Even though the scriptures teach that we should not "oppress the hireling
in his wages," this principle should be taught to the people as a matter
of honor and responsibility. It is the public's responsibility to support
only those producers who make honorable products, who are honest in their
dealings, and who pay an honest wage to their employees. Likewise, charity
is a choice. We should not force people, through legislation, to act a
certain way. See "Economics" in Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson.
The Israelites brought their fellow Israelites into bondage, and did
not release them from servitude in the seventh year, as the Lord had commanded
them, and the Lord rebuked them for their disobedience saying "ye have
polluted my name...Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty,
every one to his brother...." (Jeremiah 34:8-18)
For a discussion of the economic system of Babylon, see chapter 2 "What
is Zion? A Distant View?" in Approaching Zion by Hugh Nibley,Vol.
9 of The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley. (This article may also
be found in the April 1989 issue of Sunstone magazine.) Chapter
2 of The Government of God, by John Taylor (London, 1852), contrasts
the governments of man and his economic systems with the government of
God.
3. POLITICAL BONDAGE
(a) Dictatorships. (See "Slavery," above)
(b) Tyranny--Unrighteous Dominion of a Minority who set the policies
for the majority.
(Jere 34:8-17)
(c) When the majority of the people are wicked, the laws are corrupted
to allow increasingly wicked choices to go unpunished. (Helaman 4:22)
4. IDEOLOGICAL/PHILOSOPHICAL BONDAGE (Isa. 5:13, Galatians
1:10-14 and 4:3)
(a) The Media is currently controlled by a minority of owners/people
who decide what ideas will be discussed and which ideas will not be heard.
Certain important information is intentionally or unintentionally suppressed,
because of the choices of the media owners. (Hosea 4:6, Isa. 5:13, Prov.
29:18) Again, it is the public's responsibility to support honest news
disseminators.
(b) When the majority of people are living wickedly, truthful ideas
are rejected.
(D&C 10:21-22, Alma 13:4, I Nephi 16:2)
5. SPIRITUAL BONDAGE
Sin leads to the rejection of truth and to spiritual bondage (D&C
84:49-53).
It puts souls in subjection to evil leadership/control of Satan (Alma
12:11).
The Path to Bondage
Ignorance and Apathy (Complacence), Pride and Disobedience, are the
steps which immediately precede bondage.
The Path to Liberty
Repentance frees us from the chains of bondage (Mosiah 7:33, Mosiah
29:18-20, D&C 19:16).
How/Why does Repentance free us from the Chains of Bondage? (2 Nephi
1:13,
Alma 13:30, Alma 36:18-20, 24, D&C 109:32-33).
Blessings such as Liberty, Truth, Light, Knowledge, Health, Forgiveness,
and Freedom follow the release from bondage. (see Jere. 30:8, 17, Isa.
9:24, Isa. 58:6. See also "Yoke").
Conclusion
If we repent in each of the above-named areas, how could we free ourselves,
our families, neighbors and our nation from the various chains of bondage?
(Bondage being Habits which enslave us personally, or the False Traditions
of our institutions/ways of life).
Orson Pratt explained that the Latter day Saints were already partially
in bondage and warned of a day in which they would probably be in even
greater bondage, stating: "It seems that this people [speaking of the Latter
day Saints] at some future time may possibly be in bondage greater than
they are at the present time. I try to hope for the best, and to think
that the bondage we are in and have been in for years, in consequence of
the efforts of those who are striving to take away our rights as American
citizens, and to trample us down to the dust, there may be greater signification
to those words...It may be, if we do not live sufficiently faithful before
the Lord, that He will yet bring us into still greater tribulations than
that which we have hitherto had. It may be that we shall yet be in, like
the Israelites, in the land of Egypt; for the Lord has said that when this
man [a man like unto Moses] shall be raised up, he would redeem his people
by power, out of bondage, and they should be led as their fathers were
led at the first. [see D&C 103:8-18]." --Orson Pratt, "Redemption of
Zion," Journal of Discourses, Vol 17, (February 7, 1875).
"For ye are the children of Israel, and ye must needs be led out of
bondage by power. And as your fathers were led at the first, even so shall
the redemption of Zion be." (D&C 103:17-18)
Recommended Reading
The Tax Racket by Martin Gross.
Give Me Liberty! by Gerry Spence.
Approaching Zion by Hugh Nibley, in The Collected Works of
Hugh Nibley.
An Enemy Hath Done This by Ezra Taft Benson.
The Book of Revelation Today by Farley Anderson.
Secret Combinations Today by Robert E. Hales.
The Government of God, by apostle John Taylor
Orig Draft 1995
2nd Draft 1999
3rd Draft 1/2001- 2/2001
Attachments: (1) The Social Security Number as a form of bondage
(2) The Gentile Economic System as a form of bondage
The Social Security Number as a form of bondage
Originally promised that this number would only be used to keep track
of each individual's accumulated social security funds, and not for purposes
of identification, the social security number is now used as a compulsory
means of identification. It is now the national identification number for
each individual in the United States. In today's society, one cannot get
a job, a driver's license, a library card, open a bank account, start or
run a business, or make almost any type of major transaction without this
number.
"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,
to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads; and that
no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the
beast, or the number of his name." (Rev. 13:16-17). Farley Anderson writes:
"Many people misunderstand or misquote verse 16. The word is in their right
hand or in their foreheads. The mark is not on, but in. If someone asks
a person for their social security number, he is she will either take their
right hand and present them with a card ("in your hand,") or else will
recall it from that portion (forehead) of their brain where numbers are
stored." (Farley Anderson, The Book of Revelation Today, Bountiful,
Utah: Horizon Publishers, 1994.)
The Social Security number has allowed the government to monitor our
private bank accounts. One's social security number must be presented in
order to open a bank account, the bank is then required by law to report
all interest or dividends (by individual social security number or corporate
tax identification number) to the government. The government has already
burdened us with not only extremely high taxes on our earnings, but also
on our property, inheritances, sales, and every other type of tax imaginable.
The social security number allows the government to be linked to our banks
and accounts (which should be private), allowing them to not only monitor
our activities, and steal our privacy, but to steal our hard-earned interest.
Big Brother government, with this number, now monitors our every activity,
from our bank accounts to our job earnings, our businesses, transportation
and places of residence.
This number assures that we can easily be tracked down from one location
to another, wherever we live in the United States, even those innocent
people, who, for the purpose of safety, may be
seeking to escape from abusive former relationships or from criminal
tracking.
"It appears that there is a natural tendency for a government to begin
to think of its people as possessions after they number them. This is exactly
the opposite of the true order of government." (Farley Anderson, The
Book of Revelation Today.)
"Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of
the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred
threescore and six (666)." (Rev. 13:18). Ibzan Dean explains: "The number
of the natural man is six. This means that he does not reach up to seven
which would mean perfection, much less to 8 which means divine perfection
in a human body....Six is the number of imperfection, falling short of
seven, the number of perfection. Man was created on the sixth day and this
the number six is impressed on him. He was appointed six days for his labor:
while one day is associated with the Lord God as his rest. So that six
is the number of a man as destitute of God, without God, without Christ."
(Ibzan R. Dean, The Coming Kingdom, the Goal of Prophecy, Philadelphia:
Philadelphia School of the Bible, 1928.)
If six is the number of the natural man, and three is the number of
deity (Father, Son and Holy Ghost), then 666 is the natural man taken to
the extreme opposite, or the anti-Christ, meaning man setting himself up
in place of God, following Satan's path instead of God's.
Satan's desire is to control all men, to subvert their freedom and limit
their choices. If he can, he will put the power to buy and sell all into
the hands of his own followers so that they can dictate policy to others.
By these type of means, he can control people, for they will not be able
to buy or sell (or survive) unless they agree to follow Satan's economic
system, leaders, and laws. Farley Anderson identifies the goals of those
who plan to enforce tyrannical governments over others, and who over time,
have achieved more and more of their goals here within the United States:
they seek to control the money, the media, the schools, the food, guns,
and property.
In all ages, Satan has tried to tempt men to veer away from the path
of God. He deceives men into putting their trust in the arm of flesh instead
of putting their faith and trust in the Lord. He persuades men to put their
trust in anything else except God: in the false precepts of men, in their
possessions or wealth, in the governments of men, or in any other object
or being which transfers their primary allegiance away from God to some
earthly or secondary power. People who have put their trust in man or the
arm of flesh are more easy to deceive because they have not learned to
rely upon God and upon His holy spirit, to give them inspiration and higher
knowledge, which goes beyond this world's knowledge.
There are other ways besides the Social Security number that the mark
of the beast may be imposed upon people in order to control them. Carl
Sanders was one of the chief engineers in developing a microchip that can
be implanted in animals or men. It is imbedded under the skin and can be
used to track the exact location of its wearer. "He found, indeed, that
in the original Greek, six hundred threescore and six appears as a word.
The root of the word was steizo, to stick; a mark incised or punched into
for mark of ownership." (Farley Anderson, The Book of Revelation Today).
We are not the possessions of our governments. God does not expects
us to be slaves, numbered, tracked, and monitored as are prisoners in jail.
God gave us the liberty to be free men, to act for ourselves, and to be
responsible for our decisions. Will we continue to give away our freedom
for a false sense of security, or do we have the courage to correct that
which is wrong? The Prophet Ezra Taft Benson declared: "Social Security
is unconstitutional. Why not end it by refunding to all participants their
equitable share? The Social Security systems in the United States is compulsory,
unfair and immoral..." Benson also quoted Abraham Lincoln, who said: "You
will never get me to support a measure which I believe to be wrong, although
by doing so I may accomplish that which I believe to be right." (Ezra Taft
Benson, An Enemy Hath Done This, Salt Lake City: Parliament Publishers/Bookcraft,
1969.)
Benson goes on to say that "a young man with a family can get far more
for his money from a private pension program than he can from the Social
Security system...At the present time, anyone born after 1927 will pay
more into Social Security than he stands to get out of it. The time may
be close at hand when young men will wake up to the fact that they are
being played for suckers by the older generation. And who could blame them
if they should decide to apply the political pressure of their greater
numbers to call a halt to the con game and cancel the whole program?" (Ezra
Taft Benson, An Enemy Hath Done This.)
Each American should have the right to choose whether or not to participate
in the Social Security program. To compel all to conform is unrighteous
dominion by the federal government. Neither should any of us be forced
to be tracked and monitored by government using the guise of the Social
Security number. This is an abuse of power, and a violation of the privacy
of every citizen.
Satan's tactics, besides outright lies, slanders and temptations to
do evil, also include deceit and rationalization, the mixing of truth with
error, the false traditions of men mixed with scripture, counterfeiting
truth by offering a false or similar replacement, blackening or discrediting
the reputation of righteous people and wholesome organizations (wicked
people discredit themselves), force, torture, tyranny and compulsion.
In the Declaration of Independence, our founding fathers declared that
one of the primary reasons they were choosing to break from England was
due to the tyranny and unjust laws of the king. Yet in many ways, Americans
today have allowed themselves to be oppressed by a slew of unconstitutional
laws.
Man's agency (or freedom of choice) was one of the blessings (rights)
granted him by God before this world was created. God holds men accountable
for the correct or incorrect use of their agency, in the form of consequences.
It is Satan's desire to steal man's agency from him. "Satan rebelled--and
sought to destroy the agency of man." (Moses 4:3).
Marion G. Romney stated: "Free agency is the principle against which
Satan waged his war in heaven. It is still the front on which he makes
his most furious, devious, and persistent attacks....We must be careful
that we are not led to accept or support in any way any organization, cause
or measure which in its remotest effort, would jeopardize free agency,
whether it be in politics, government, religion, employment, education,
or in any other field." (Marion G. Romney, Conference Reports, October
1960).
David O. McKay, in October 1966, warned: "Efforts are being made to
deprive man of his free agency, to steal from the individual his liberty..."
(as quoted by Ezra Taft Benson in An Enemy Hath Done This, Salt
Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969).
Ezra Taft Benson also warned that the American people may reach a point
in which they were willing to exchange their liberties for a false promise
of security, stating that "Any government powerful enough to give
the people all that they want it also powerful enough to take from the
people all that they have." (Ezra Taft Benson, An Enemy Hath Done This).
Haven't we already reached this point? Haven't we traded our security
for a vast number of convenient programs? And haven't Americans traded
their liberty for security in the form of the Social Security Program?
Everyone in the United States now has their own number. This is a very
convenient way for our own government to monitor the earnings and activities
of each citizen. We have already accepted the mark of the beast and his
control over our lives, however mild and unassuming that control may appear
at the present time.
"God has endowed men with certain unalienable rights and no legislature
and no majority, however great, may morally limit or destroy these. The
function of government is to protect life, liberty and property and anything
more or less than this is usurpation and oppression."--Ezra Taft Benson
The Gentile Economic System as a form of Bondage
The Saints have been commanded by the Lord in the Doctrine & Covenants
to live the law of consecration, to give their excess profits to the Bishop's
storehouse (their excess being that which is beyond what they need for
the support of their own families). Further, the Lord has commanded them
be one, to be unified in all things, to love one another as oneself. He
has declared "If ye are not one, ye are not mine."
Instead of following the Lord's teachings, the Saints have rejected
the covenants they made both at baptism and in the temple to be unified
in all things. They have rejected the Lord and embraced the Gentile economic
system, which is basically a system of every man for himself in society,
every man allowed himself to grow as rich as he can, often at the expense
of others (through the exploitation of others, through the payment of low
wages, etc.). In Gentile society, the impoverishing of some at the profit
or gain of others is not looked upon with any repugnance.
When Brigham Young first brought the Latter day Saints to the great
Salt Lake basin in the mountains, he remembered the speculation that had
gone on among the Saints in Kirtland, where land and goods had been sold
at high prices to newcomers, those who were selling goods or speculating
in lands often growing rich by charging high prices, impoverishing the
newcomers. Brigham Young decided this was not to be the state of affairs
in the territory of Deseret (Utah). None of the Saints was to seize vast
tracts of land to sell at high prices to newcomers, but all newcomers were
to be allowed to settle and cultivate their own property by their own labors.
"Every effort was put forth so far as the influence of President Young
and those associated with him was concerned, that the land should be divided
into small portions; that every man should receive according to the size
of his family, according to his needs, and that no man should hold large
tracts of land to keep others from it" (John McQuarrie, Conference Report,
October 1906).
This wonderful outlook allowed each pioneer the freedom and independence
to own and develop his own property (a condition which no longer exists
in Utah).
Today in Utah, vast tracts of land are owned by the government or by
corporations or wealthy landowners, one cannot buy even a small tract of
land or a home unless he has accumulated wealth. The accumulation of wealth
for some is very much hindered by their low wages. People who earn less
than the average often have to settle as renters, without home or property,
as long as their income is low. This ensures that only part of the population
will be property owners, while those who cannot afford to buy will pour
out their life earnings every month to pay for food they cannot produce
themselves, for apartments they cannot afford to own, and thus pour out
their labors and earnings to others in nothing that accumulates, only for
that which they must consume for their support.
Strom Thurmond said: "Take away a man's right to own property and you
take away his right to be independent, substituting serfdom in place of
freedom."
Anciently, each Israelite family owned property within their tribal
boundaries, and properties were passed from parent to child. Old Testament
prophets reproved individuals who sought to steal the property of others
by joining "house to house, that lay field to field..." (Isa. 5:8), in
other words, who buy, take, or accumulate vast tracts of property for themselves
(usually at the expense or loss of property of others). "the laws were
such that those lands would remain in the possession of each family, and
could not be taken from them by chicanery or fraud..." (John McQuarrie,
Conference
Report, October 1906)
"The experience of mankind has shown that the people of communities
and nations among whom wealth is the most equally distributed, enjoy the
largest degree of liberty, are the least exposed to tyranny and oppression
and suffer the least from luxurious habits which beget vice. Among the
chosen people of the Lord, to prevent the too rapid growth of wealth and
its accumulation in a few hands, He ordained that in every seventh year,
the debtors were to be released from their debts, and where a man had sold
himself to his brother, he was in that year to be released from slavery
and to go free; even the land itself which might pass out of the possession
of its owner by his sale of it, whether through his improvidence, mismanagement,
or misfortune, could only be alienated until the year of jubilee. At the
expiration of every forty-nine years, the land reverted, without cost,
to the man or family whose inheritance originally it was, except in the
case of a dwelling house in a walled city, for the redemption of which,
one year only was allowed, after which, if not redeemed, it became the
property, without change at the year of jubilee, of the purchaser. Under
such a system, carefully maintained, there could be no great aggregations
of either real or personal property in the hands of a few; especially so
while the laws, forbidding the taking of usury or interest for money or
property loaned, continued in force."
"One of the great evils with which our nation is menaced at the present
time is the wonderful growth of wealth in the hands of a comparatively
few individuals. The very liberties for which our fathers contended so
steadfastly and courageously, and which they bequeathed to us as a priceless
legacy, are endangered by the monstrous power which this accumulation of
wealth gives to a few individuals and a few powerful corporations. By its
seductive influence, results are accomplished which, were it more equally
distributed, would be impossible under our form of government. It threatens
to give shape to the legislation, both State and National, of the entire
country. If this evil should not be checked, and measures not be taken
to prevent the continued enormous growth of riches among the class already
rich, and the painful increase of destitution and want among the poor,
the nation is liable to be overtaken by disaster, for, according to history,
such a tendency among nations once powerful was the sure precursor of ruin.
The evidence of the restiveness of the people under this condition of affairs
in our times is witnessed in the formation of societies of grangers, or
patrons of husbandry, trades' unions, etc., etc., combinations of the productive
and working classes against capital."
"Years ago it was perceived that we Latter day Saints were open to the
same dangers as those which beset the rest of the world. A condition of
affairs existed among us which was favorable to the growth of riches in
the hands of a few at the expense of the many. A wealthy class was being
rapidly formed in our midsts, whose interest, in the course of time, were
likely to be diverse from those of the rest of the community. The growth
of such a class was dangerous to our union; and of all people, we stand
most in need of union and to have our interest identical. Then it was that
the Saints were counseled to enter into cooperation. In the absence
of the necessary faith to enter upon a more perfect order revealed
by the Lord unto the Church, this was felt to be the best means of drawing
us together and making us one." (Messages of the First Presidency,
Vol. 2).
From the above quote, we learn, that where the Saints lack the faith
to practice the higher principles which have been revealed to them, the
Lord, in His mercy, often implements programs or policies to help bring
the Saints up to the higher level. Too often, however, the Saints have
rejected not only the higher principles but the programs which were intended
to help them rise to the higher level.
The Lord is displeased at the Latter day Saints for their selfishness.
We know the Lord to be a loving and generous father, willing to provide
basic opportunities for all his children, not giving preferential treatment
to some and neglecting others. He declared: "For what man among you, having
twelve sons, and is no respecter of them, and they serve him obediently,
and he saith unto the one: Be clothed in robes and sit thou here; and to
the other, Be thou clothed in rags, and sit thou there--and looketh upon
his sons and saith I am just? Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable,
and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one,
ye are not mine." (D&C 38:26-27).
The Lord has made it clear that if the Saints do not exercise the kind
of loving equality which is to be expected of those who have covenanted
to live as Saints and take upon themselves the name of Christ, then He
does not consider them his people, that is, God rejects them as a people.
The Gentile economic system encourages the accumulation of land, property
and wealth in the hands of an elite few, at the expense and impoverishment
of others who work. The Saints, by embracing the Gentile economic system,
are rejected by God, for "if ye are not one, ye are not mine." If we are
not God's, then we must belong to someone else, that is, we belong to the
world, and worship the world instead of God. When God cast off the ancient
Israelites for their idolatry, disbelief, and disobedience to his laws,
he called them "Lo-ammi," meaning "Not my people."
The Gentile economic system is a system which results in the poverty,
struggle and misery of many people, especially the laboring class. God
expects his Saints to be living on a higher plane, the law of consecration,
that they may be a light and example of his truths to the rest of the world,
that the oppressed may find refuge, that those in bondage may find freedom.
Right now, in Utah, too many are living in economic bondage and hopelessness,
the result of the Saints having rejected the law of Consecration. "If ye
are not one, ye are not mine." "Lo-ammi--not my people." Let us embrace
the laws of God that we may be an example of his laws and truth, and bring
to our fellowmen hope and freedom from oppression and economic bondage.
"This is the land of Zion; but we are not yet prepared to go and establish
the Center Stake of Zion. The Lord tried this in the first place. He called
the people together to where the New Jerusalem and the great temple will
be built, and where He will prepare for the City of Enoch. And He gave
revelation after revelation; but the people could not abide them, and the
Church was scattered and peeled, and the people hunted from place to place,
till finally, they were driven into the mountains, and here we are. Now,
it is for you and me to prepare to return back again...to return East...to
build up the Center Stake of Zion. We are not prepared to do this
now, but we are here to learn until we are of one heart and of
one mind in the things of life. Do all the Latter day Saints arrive
at this? No; they have not...of the great many who have been baptized into
the Church, but few have been able to abide the word of the Lord, they
have fallen out on the right and on the left, and have floundered by the
way, and a few have gathered together. Will these be prepared to enter
the Celestial Kingdom? Some of them will be, and will become kings and
priests, but not all of these, only a portion of them. They do not know
what to do with the revelations, commandments and blessings of God. Talking,
for instance, about everyday things, how many do we see here that know
what to do with money and property when they get it? Are their eyes single
to the building up of the kingdom of God? No; they are single to the building
up of themselves." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 11,
Feb. 10, 1867)
Note: Some people, hoping to change the conditions of the world,
have erroneously believed that socialism or communism would bring about
economic freedom for the masses. This, however, is untrue. Heber J. Grant,
J. Reuben Clark and David O. McKay declared that the Communists would never
establish the United Order. It is, however, the responsibility of the Latter
day Saints to prepare their hearts so that they can live the law of consecration
and establish the United Order, an economic order which will enable its
participants to enjoy freedom and independence.
In the early days of the Church, the Saints rejected the law of consecration
and the United Order, and this law has not been instituted again in full
force among the Saints (although Brigham Young attempted to get the Saints
to live this law). Because of the unwillingness of the Saints to live these
laws, the leaders of the Lord's church have had to come up with alternative
programs to help the times of need. One of these programs has been the
Welfare Program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, intended
as short-term relief to help those members during times of economic depression,
during temporary job loss, misfortunes or setbacks. Even though the Lord
has provided for the support of the poor in his church, this support in
most cases was intended to be short term in order to help the receipient
overcome poverty and to reestablish himself, to help him become self-sufficient
and independent again. Nothing was ever intended as a long-term dole, where
those who worked were supporting those who did not work. Indeed, the Lord
has commanded his people not to be idle, saying that "he that is idle shall
not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer" (D&C 42:42),
and that "the idler shall not have place in the church" (D&C 75:29).
In other words, the Lord wants us to become self-sufficient, to work and
provide for ourselves and for our families. We must also remember, however,
that men must be given the ways and means to become self-sufficient, not
robbed of the means nor hindered from becoming so. It is the Lord's desire
for all of his children to receive equal opportunities to own and develop
property, to work and achieve.
(Installed on this web page Feb 2001 kf>tlr)
LDSVeg.org
- LDS Vegetarian
Authors: Kay Fairchild: Laws of
God on War Back
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The
Laws of God on War & Military Intervention
by Kay Fairchild
When the Israelites obeyed the word of God, they (1) Prospered, (2)
Won their battles (Joshua 11:6-8, Judges 2:16), (3) Other nations feared
to go to battle against them (Moses 7:17), (4) Other nations came to acknowledge
the God of Israel as being the true God, because He protected his people
(2 Chron 20:29).
Military Laws of God
(1) It appears that God sometimes uses foreign nations to punish
other wicked nations. Read the words of Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, who
tells Josiah that God [?]commanded him to this battle, and if King Josiah
interferes, he will be interfering in God's instructions to Necho.
[Many rulers throughout history have used a similar excuse to justify a
foreign invasion.] When the righteous King Josiah of Judah tries
to INTERCEDE in a FOREIGN WAR that does NOT involve his own country (as
Judah is NOT being invaded), the Lord allows this righteous king to be
smitten in battle (in the Old Testament, the Lord always protected the
kings that were righteous--this is one of the notable exceptions).
The point here seems to be that Righteous nations Should NOT interfere
in the foreign wars of other nations UNLESS they are commanded by God to
be involved. (2 Chron 35) The Prophet Joseph Smith, in Views
on Government, stated that our nation should not become involved in the
intrigues of foreign nations. See also the words of the Prophet Ezra
Taft Benson concerning "Unconstitutional Actions" in Teachings of Ezra
Taft Benson.
(2) A Righteous Nation is not to step in and help DEFEND A WICKED
NATION (as when the righteous Jehoshaphat, King of Judah went up to fight
a battle with the wicked King Ahab of Israel against Ahab's enemies, even
though they were fellow Israelites. God wanted the Israelites punished
for their transgressions in order to bring them to repentance. (2
Chron 19:2)
(3) God expects his people to follow his words exactly.
He sent his prophets to condemn Kings when they made ALLIANCES with a wicked
nation to help them fight their enemies. God repeatedly tells the
people that IF they live righteously, He (God) will fight their battles
for them, and/or will save/protect/help them win their battles. (see
King Asa of Judah's alliance with Syria against Israel in 2 Chron 16).
(4) A Righteous Nation shall NOT HIRE nor EMPLOY the foreign
armies of wicked nations. This happened one time when the King of
Judah thought that he did not have a large enough army to face the army
attacking him, so he hired some soldiers from the House of Israel, which
was wicked at that time. The Prophet came to the King of Judah and
told him to dismiss the foreign armies and only use his own armies, that
he needed to have faith that the Lord would help fight his battles for
him, no matter how large the opposing army was, as God had the power to
defeat any army. (2 Chron 25:6-11). God reduced Gideon's army from
32,000 to only 300 men to show Israel that it was He, the Lord, who won
their battles for them (Judges 7).
(5) God allows his people Israel TO FAIL IN BATTLE, to lose lands,
to be killed, etc., when they are living wickedly. God does not defend
the wicked, and when the Israelites were wicked, God multiplied their enemies.
Many examples in Old Testament (see Judges 2:13-23). In BOM, see--Mosiah
1:13, Mosiah 2:31, Mosiah 11:21, Alma 10:23, Mormon 2:26.
(6) D&C 98:16-48--The Lord's Law on War and Peace,
when Military Intervention is justified. God says that He gave this
same law to his ancient people. D&C 98:33--Not to go out in battle
against ANY NATION "save (except) I the Lord commanded them."
(7) Alma 43:46-47, Alma 48:14-16, Alma 61:13-14, D&C
134:11--THE DEFENSE LAW OF GOD, i.e., when the Nephites were attacked by
their enemies, they were justified in defending themselves. "Inasmuch
as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall
not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies. And
again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families..."
(8) The Righteous Kings always sent to the Prophets of God to
receive instructions from the Lord as to (a) whether or not to proceed
in battle against a certain enemy (b) as to where to place their troops
for the best advantage. The Prophets always gave God's guidance in
these matters, as the Lord PROTECTED the Israelites when they were righteous.
(2 Chron 20:29). See also Isaiah 4:5 and Isaiah 54:17. Moses
7:13--The people of Enoch were a righteous and PEACEFUL people. God
protected the people of Enoch from foreign invasion because of their faith
and righteousness.
David O. McKay stated that there are "two conditions which
justify a truly Christian man to enter--not begin--a war. (1) the
attempt to dominate or deprive one of free agency (2) loyalty to country,
(3) possibly, the defense of a weak country that is unjustly crushed by
a strong, ruthless one." (David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals) Note
that all the conditions stated by David O. McKay can be stretched and twisted
so that they could be applied to almost any situation, which could justify
entrance into practically any war, therefore, it is explicit that we consider
the previously stated conditions above. God always justifies people
in defending themselves, their homes, their families, and their freedom
(liberty) from the attack of any aggressor. The downfall of the Nephites
came when they started a war of aggression (instead of self-defense) and
vengeance against their enemies, and as a result, God allowed their enemies
to destroy them (Mormon 3:14-15, Mormon 4:1-2,5, 18).
Note the example of the Lamanites who were converted by Ammon.
They threw down their weapons of war and lived peacefully thereafter.
Those who took a vow of peace never again took up weapons against their
enemies. Isaiah prophecies of a day when the people of God shall
choose to live peacefully (Isaiah 2:4 and Isaiah 11:9).
Original--about 1996-97
1st Revision--1999
2nd Revision--3/2001
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Authors: Kay Fairchild: Many Prophets Back
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Many
Prophets
by Kay Fairchild
Introduction
There seems to be a problem in the church with acknowledging that more
than one person can be a prophet. While there is generally only one
prophet who is the president of the church of Jesus Christ at a time in
one area (in former dispensations, we know that there were at least
two contemporary prophets: a prophet and apostles at Jerusalem, and
a prophet and apostles in America; and in modern times, the prophet Joseph
Smith said that there were currently also prophets among the Lost Tribes),
nonetheless, throughout history, God has called more than one man to prophesy
in his name. These men who are called to prophesy and warn the people
may be the heads of the church (as in the case of Nephi, who was the prophet/leader
among the Nephites, or Jeremiah, the prophet among the Jews), or he may
be someone who is not the prophet/president of the church, but rather,
a lay person with no specific church leadership position, who is either
called to warn his own people (as in the case of Lehi, who was called to
warn the people at Jerusalem when Jeremiah was the Prophet/head of the
church), or who may be called to warn a different nation (as in the case
of Jonah, a Jew, being sent to warn the people of Ninevah, or as in the
case of Samuel the Lamanite, an outsider sent by God to warn the Nephites
to repent when Nephi was the prophet). It appears that in days of
pride and wickedness, God often sends multiple witnesses among the people,
extra witnesses besides the regularly ordained prophets/leaders of the
church.
Why is the issue of multiple prophets generally not talked about by
the president of the church and the apostles? I personally believe
it is because there are a number of Latter day Saints who are so easily
deceived, that the leaders of the church do not want to open the door to
these false prophets. As it is, the general authorities are constantly
having to battle against dissenters within the church, which dissenters
are attempting to undermine the doctrines being taught by church leadership.
Some people in the church are not well grounded in the scriptures, or walking
in obedience to the Holy Ghost, so that they are more easily deceived than
those who are well-grounded and who have the Holy Ghost in their daily
lives. It is hard for some people to distinguish between false and
true prophets, although the scriptures are very clear in pointing out the
differences between the two. Let's look at just a few scriptures
to help us gain more understanding.
False Prophets
"Beware of false prophets," Jesus warned us. "Ye shall know them by
their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thrones, or figs of thistles?
Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree
bringeth forth evil fruit...Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them."
(3 Nephi 14:15-20 or Matt. 7:15-20). False prophets lead us away
from the truth, their works are corrupt, we can judge by their lives, attitudes,
thoughts, words and actions that they bear bad fruit. True prophets
lead us back towards Christ the Lord.
In 1831, when the church was located at Ohio, and Joseph Smith, Jr.
was the prophet called by God and the president of the church, Hiram Page,
a member of the church, had a seerstone from which he claimed to be receiving
revelations for the Church of Jesus Christ. The Lord
revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that Hiram Page was receiving false
prophecies with his "seerstone," which "prophecies" contradicted
the prophecies received by the Prophet Joseph Smith, and which were causing
people to be led astray. God does not send more than one man to give
commandments to the Church of Jesus Christ, nor does he inspire lay members
of the church with revelations which are contradictory to those revelations
already revealed. The Lord tells us: "There is none other appointed
unto you to receive commandments and revelations [i.e., for the church]
until he [the Prophet Joseph Smith] be taken, if he abide in me....None
else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him: for if
it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another
in his stead. And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not
the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments
[since only the President of the Church has the authority to give commandments
to the church]; and this I give unto you that you may not be deceived,
that you may know they are not of me." (D&C 43:3-6).
I will comment here that many Latter day Saints do not seem to be able
to distinguish between a commandment which should only be coming from the
church leadership, verses words of truth and inspiration, which can come
to us from many different sources and from many different people.
Some Latter Day Saints do not seem to be able to believe any truth at all
unless it comes out of the mouth of the prophet, forgetting that the Lord
has provided many sources of truth for us. We are commanded to seek
out of the best books, words of inspiration. "And as all have not
faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek
ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study
and also by faith." (D&C 88:118).
In fact, many Latter day Saints currently find it easier to believe
many of the false prophets of the world, which come to them via the precepts
of men which they have been taught in the schools, by the media, and society,
than to believe the words and teachings of God. Some of them spurn
the words of inspiration of their fellow Latter day Saints when false precepts
are pointed out to them, choosing instead to rely on the arm of flesh,
or the arm of man, instead of the arm of God.* When asked what he
was teaching the people, Satan boasted: "the precepts of men, mingled with
scriptures." In other words, it was easier for the devil to deceive
the people when he mixed truth with error. (*See 1999 paper by author
entitled "The Traditions of Men Vs. The Standards of God".)
The Prophet Ezra Taft Benson warned: "There are also apostate
doctrines that are sometimes taught in our classes and from our pulpits
and that appear in our publications. And these apostate precepts
of men cause our people to stumble. As the Book of Mormon, speaking
of our day, states: 'They have all gone astray save it be a few, who are
the humble followers of Christ, nevertheless, they are led, that in many
instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men."
President Benson also said: "The world worships the learning of man.
They trust in the arm of flesh. To them, men's reasoning is greater
than God's revelations. The precepts of man have gone so far in subverting
our educational system that in many cases, a higher degree today, in the
so-called social sciences, can be tantamount to a major investment in error...some
use their higher degree to get teaching positions even in our Church Educational
System, where they spread the falsehoods they have been taught."
(Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson).
Jeremiah chapter 23 is one of the best sources for a discussion on the
characteristics of false prophets. False prophets commit adultery,
are liars, and support evildoers (v. 14). They worship false gods
(v. 13). They promise the people peace (v. 17). They prophesy when
the Lord has not inspired them (v. 21). They fail to warn the people
to repent and turn from their evil ways (v. 22). They prophesy lies
(v. 25). They cause the people to err (v. 32).
In addition, false prophets "divine for money," and "teach for hire,"
(Micah 3:5-11), in other words, they are paid for preaching, they are financially
reimbursed for their service in the ministry. True prophets do not
preach the word of God for money and are not paid for their service to
the church. The Prophet Alma was paid for his occupation as chief
judge, but was not paid for his church service as prophet and missionary.
Even the prophet Joseph Smith supported his family as a merchant and storekeeper
and was not paid for his service as prophet. (see 2 Nephi 26:29-31,
Alma 1:2-3, 16, Alma 30:32-34.)
Latter day Saints need to study the scriptures so they understand the
truth and can recognize the truth. They also need to be prayerful and living
in obedience to the commandments so that they will have the Holy Ghost
and be able to distinguish true from false prophets. True prophets
never lead us away from the truth nor away from the commandments, but rather,
lead us to understand the scriptures more fully and encourage us to live
the commandments more carefully.
True Prophets
Every prophet has a unique mission to perform; they are sent at different
periods of the world for different purposes. How many prophets besides
Noah built an ark after warning the people to repent? Yet Noah also
shared characteristics similar to all the prophets.
Every prophet shares certain similarities: (a) they are chosen (called)
by God (not by man). (b) They preach repentance to the people.
(c) They teach the gospel plan of salvation, including faith in Christ,
the atonement, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, etc.
(d) They testify of Christ. (e) They give revelations, prophecies,
warnings and correction as they are inspired by God.
The nature of the calling of the prophet, John "the Baptist," was prophesied
by his father, Zacharias. Upon the day of John's circumcision, Zacharias
"was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied." (Luke 1:67). Zacharias,
who was not a prophet, but a priest in the temple, prophesied of the coming
of the Messiah (Luke 1:69) and that his son John would be called a prophet,
and would prepare the way before the Lord (Luke 1:67-79). In this
prophesy, the Lord himself detailed the nature of John's prophetic calling:
(a) He will prepare the way for the Lord's coming (v. 76), (b) Give
knowledge of salvation to the people by the remission of their sins
(v. 77-78), (c) Give light to them that sit in darkness (v. 79)
[i.e. provide truth and understanding], (d) To guide their feet
[i.e., teach them] in the way of peace (v. 79).
It is the responsibility of prophets to call people to repentance.
Repentance stimulates change (reformation) in the righteous hearers of
the word. Once individuals have changed themselves, this change (reformation)
carries over into their families and communities, since repentance is only
true if it changes not only a person's heart, but his character and actions.
The people of King Benjamin were so touched after they heard him speak
that their hearts were changed, so that they no longer desired to do evil.
Enoch transformed his people into a Zion people hundreds of years before
the birth of Christ. The apostles of Jesus Christ preached the gospel
in ancient America following the death of Jesus Christ and the people were
so changed, that peace and good will reigned for the next two hundred years.
The Prophet Joseph Smith gave so many new revelations to the people
(The Law of Consecration, the Word of Wisdom, the Law of Unity, the Fullness
of the Gospel, Family history and Temple work, etc.), that it required
a great reformation among the people--so great, in fact, that the first
generation of Latter-day Saints were unsuccessful in establishing Zion
because of their failure to live the laws revealed to them. When
the Prophet Brigham Young saw the Saints straying from the gospel, he instituted
a great reformation throughout the church, trying to bring the people back
to live the basic principles which had been taught to them.
True prophets, who testify of people's sins, are often mislabeled "false"
prophets by those who refuse to repent (Helaman 13:26).
Many Prophets
(1) Jeremiah 44:4--I sent unto you all my servants the prophets.
(2) I Nephi 1:4--Many prophets in the days of King Zedekiah.
(3) Ezra 5:1--"Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah
the son of Iddo, [two contemporary prophets] prophesied unto the Jews that
were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel."
(4) Enos 1:22--"And there were exceedingly many prophets among
us. And the people were a stiffnecked people, hard to understand"
(that is, the people were so hard-hearted, they had a difficult time understanding/believing
the prophet's words.)
(5) The Prophet Urijah, a contemporary of the Prophet Jeremiah, was
murdered by the political leaders of his day (Jere. 26:20-24).
Many prophets are sent to the people at a time when the people have
the truth, but are disregarding it because of their pride. Many prophets
are also sent to warn people to repent before great calamities befall.
Samuel the Lamanite was one of these additional prophets sent to warn the
Nephites before the great earthquakes and tidal forces struck them at the
time of the death of Jesus Christ.
After Christ made his glorious appearance to the Nephites following
his resurrection, he questioned them regarding a discrepancy in their scriptures.
Now the Nephites had carefully recorded what the prophets and presidents
of their church had told them, from Lehi and his son Nephi down to Alma
and Helaman and the Nephi who was prophet at the time of Christ's appearance.
But they had failed to record the testimony of an outsider
who had testified to them, Samuel the Lamanite, who was neither the prophet
or president of their church nor one of the apostles or general authorities.
Yet God had sent Samuel as an additional witness! (3 Nephi 23:6-13)
Prophetesses
In addition to male prophets, the scriptures record the names of certain
female prophetesses. The words of the Prophetess Huldah are found
in 2 Kings 22:14-20 and 2 Chron. 34:22-28. At the time of Christ's
birth, Anna was a prophetess in the temple (Luke 2:36-38). She was
not the president of the church, but was known as a prophetess. None
of her prophecies are recorded in our present Bible. As in the case
of true and false prophets, we must also remember that there are true and
false prophetesses; examples of false prophetesses are found in Rev. 2:20
and Ezek. 13:16-23.
Conclusion
When I have looked around the church today and seen what appears to
be a growing complacency among the Latter day Saints, I have become concerned.
While I realize that it is common in certain churches for the lay members
to expect their ministers to do most of the work, most of the inspired
preaching, and to generally be more inspired than their congregations,
this has never been the Lord's expectation of the Latter day Saints.
In fact, in the early days of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day
Saints, it was typical for the Latter-day Saints (the lay members, men
and women) to speak in tongues, to interpret, to have dreams and visions,
and to prophesy. Why are many of these gifts no longer common among
the Latter day Saints today? Are we allowing ourselves to become
lazy and complacent, and to think, like the unbelievers in the days of
Joseph Smith, that these gifts were only given to the Saints in the days
of Jesus Christ's mortal ministry?
When someone came to Moses and complained that two men were prophesying
in the camp (in other words, speaking without "authority"), and asked Moses
to forbid them from prophesying, Moses replied "Enviest thou for my sake?
Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would
put his spirit upon them!" (Numbers 11:27-29). In other words, Moses
wished that all the Israelites were living faithfully enough that the spirit
of God would rest upon them so that they were all prophesying (true things)
in the name of the Lord. Prophesy being one of those gifts that God
willingly bestows upon the righteous (Mormon 10:13-17), it is the duty
of the Latter day Saints to seek after this gift, and to be worthy of receiving
it.
The gift of prophecy is available to all who desire it (Mormon
10:13-17), and is "given to every man as he will," not just to the
president of the church. The gift of prophesy has been given to various
men and women who were not heads of the church, but who spoke as they were
inspired by God (as before-noted in the case of Zacharias, the father of
John).
Joel 2:28 records: "And it shall come to pass afterward, that
I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall
see visions; and also upon the servants upon the handmaids [women] in those
days will I pour out my spirit." Why do we try to limit prophesying
to men who hold leadership positions, when the scriptures clearly predict
that this gift is available even to women?
The Seventh Article of Faith states: "We believe in the gift of tongues,
prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and
so forth." If we believe these things, then we should be exercising
our faith to obtain these gifts. (Mormon 10:13-17). When these
gifts are no longer found among the Saints, the scriptures tell us, it
will be because of unbelief and lack of faith. (Mormon 10:24-25).
Instead of relying on one man (the president of the church) for revelations
concerning everything they should know, the Saints should be anxiously
seeking personal revelation (as many of the general authorities have urged
us to do) and these other spiritual gifts, for the Lord is willing to bestow
as many upon us as we seek and prepare ourselves to receive. The
president of the church is busy enough running the affairs of the Lord's
church on an international basis. To expect him to try to answer
everyone's questions, or to solve the problems of the thousands of communities,
states and nations that the worldwide membership of Latter day Saints belong
to, would be to steal the personal agency with which each of us has been
blessed. God has given us all minds, wills, and agency, so that we as individuals
should be anxiously engaged (D&C 58:27) in trying to solve the problems
of our own families, communities, states and nations. Our personal
revelation and personal life mission can help direct us to the area in
which we each can best serve. D&C 88:78-79, 118 and D&C 93:53
directs us to seek knowledge from many different sources, as is
available to us. Remember, we each have different stewardships to
fulfill; we should be busy fulfilling our own.
D&C 88:81: "Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people,
and it becometh every man (not just the prophet and apostles) who hath
been warned to warn his neighbors (not just his non-member neighbors, but
even his Latter day Saint neighbors, who believe that they are living the
gospel, but who in many ways are not)...."to prepare the Saints for the
hour of judgment which is to come, that their souls may escape the wrath
of God..." (D&C 88:84-85).
Prophets get their knowledge directly from heaven, from angelic messengers,
by revelation, dreams, visions, etc., and from inspiration while reading
and pondering the scriptures. The scriptures are a result of revelations
received by many different prophets (I Cor. 12:29-31, Moroni 10:13, 17).
Individuals also can have the gift of prophecy and revelation. I
have received knowledge from time to time from God which I was directed
by the Spirit to share with others. This knowledge was given to me
by inspiration in order to help myself and others to see the correct way
more clearly and in order to enable us to repent and obtain blessings.
Although I have received inspiration from God on many different subjects,
two articles in particular I received by direct inspiration from God (1)
"Let Us Be One--Becoming a Zion People" and (2) "The Traditions of Men
Vs. The Standards of God". These articles are both calls to the Latter
day Saints to repent of the ways in which they are currently following
the ways of the world instead of the principles of God. The spirit
directed me to share this information with others.
I believe that all people who are living in tune with the Spirit of
God have something that they can teach others: we are here to edify and
lift one another. In trying to share the truths which I have received,
I have never tried to set myself up in place of the Prophet who is the
President of the church, who is the only one authorized to give commandments
for the entire church for the direction of the church. Nevertheless,
I believe that God inspires many people, and that the righteous can edify
each other with what they have learned from the Spirit. It is the
proud who are unteachable and unreceptive to truth.
Latter Day Saints often do not recognize their state of pride which
keeps them from receiving truth and from trusting in the word of God.
In times of wickedness, God sends many prophets who are not the
heads of the church, to warn the people to repent. Not every prophet
establishes or restores the church, some are called simply to warn the
people to repent of their worldly ways or to testify of Christ. The
Jews at Jerusalem believed they were good people when they were full of
pride and wickedness.
The Latter day Saints have just as much reason to beware of pride, having
been warned against it not only by Book of Mormon prophets who saw the
conditions of our day, but also by modern prophets. (see address
by Ezra Taft Benson, "Beware of Pride.") (see also 2 Nephi 28:24-31)
Rather than thinking that we are living the gospel so perfectly, we should
be humble enough to receive whatever truth is taught to us, and not think
that we have no need to improve. Christ admonished us that unless
we were as humble and teachable as little children, we would not
enter the Kingdom of God. Let us, then, be open to whatever truths
come to our awareness that we may not hinder our eternal progression.
8/2000
Rev. 1/2001
Rev. 2/2001-3/2001
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Fairchild: Thanks
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Thanks
Kay Fairchild
I would like to thank those who contributed to my knowledge, which enabled
me to write the following articles:
Diet and Health
I wrote this article in 1992, about how changing my diet enabled me
to overcome my health problems. I met Thomas Lynn Rodgers in 1995.
I was already a vegetarian at that time: I did not eat red meats;
poultry I ate rarely, perhaps once or twice a year, and I no longer consumed
dairy products. I revised the article in 1995 and added many scriptures,
included D&C 89:19 and Daniel 1:8-20, which Tom had explained to me.
Tom also made me aware of the book Fats that Heal and Fats that
Kill by Udo Erasmus, pointing out that I could get my dietary oils from
nuts and seeds and give up the fish that I had been eating strictly to
obtain these oils. After giving up fish, a patch of skin cancer on
my forehead healed completely.
Tom also told me to replace the honey in my diet (an animal product:
as an insect processed sugar) with vegetable sugars, explaining to me how
bees bless our lives with their thousands hours of service to us in pollinating
our crops, and how we then reward them by stealing the food (honey) which
they made to feed their young. Tom encouraged me to further refine my vegetarian
diet by replacing all remaining animal sources with plant sources, so I
decided to give it a try, and have eaten a vegan diet ever since, as this
diet was a source of great blessings to me, not only improving my physical
health, but resulting in greater personal revelation and knowledge.
As a result of meeting Tom, I became a vegan, eliminating all remaining
animal products from my diet. This diet has been a great blessing
to me, not only improving my physical health, but resulting in greater
personal revelation and knowledge.
Let Us Become One, or Becoming a Zion People
I wrote this article for a Singles Conference in 1997. I quoted
several scriptures which Tom Rodgers had previously explained to me: D&C
49:21, Psalm 78, Psalm 81, and Hebrews 3.
The Traditions of Men Vs. the Standards of God
Original Draft written 1999. Thanks to Tom Rodgers for introducing
me to Ann Tracy, Joyce Kinmont, Robert Cohen, and others, and thanks to
all of these authors for their books. Thanks to Tom for sharing with
me the Hyrum Smith Discourse of June 1, 1842, on "The Word of Wisdom,"
and for introducing me to the information on vaccines and the articles
in the U.S. News and World Report.
Other people also came into my life who told me about certain books
or sources which I was also able to find and use, and I thank them.
A majority of the books on the list are ones I had read previously to compiling
this article.
Review of Bergner book, "The Healing Power of Minerals"
Tom Rodgers had told me previously that God provided all the nutrients
man needs in plant sources; man can get all the proper nutrients he needs
without consuming animal foods.
I express my gratitude to the Lord for his inspiration in all the articles
I have written.
Kay Fairchild
3/2001
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