Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Infallible Hypocrites


                              The Stone of Destruction

“For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words--they set him at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels.”—1 Nephi 19:7

There are some more of those niggly things rattling in the back of my mind these days. They are some of the statements by the CJCLDS leaders that have bothered me for quite some time. Intuitively, I knew they were inherently wrong, but being too distracted with other matters as we so often are in this modern world, I set them aside. Today they flowered under the auspices of discussing reconciliation and forgiveness with my daughter over her struggles.

Dallin Oaks has caused quite a furor in his abnegation of accountability speech before the press, stating:

"I know that the history of the church is not to seek apologies or to give them," 1-27-2015

This is a typical Mormon testimony if I ever heard one. In reviewing this morning the Seven steps of Repentance outlined by Assistant to the Twelve, William Critchlow to BYU students in 1964, I wrote down the following:

Recognition
Remorse
Relating
Restitution
Resolution
Reformation
Realization

Surely “apology” fits in there somewhere? Like Recognition and Remorse, and Restitution? Isn’t this the very concept that apology connotes? I will proceed with this accepted premise by all rational and moral people. It is after all, the Webster definition which people use most:

2    an acknowledgment of some fault, injury, insult, etc., with an expression of regret and a plea for pardon

If the reader does not accept this premise, they live by a different model of reconciliation than the rest of us and what I write is of no value to them.

The very first indictment Dallin makes against themselves is, that since the beginning of the Church, it has not been a policy, practice, or precept, for the Church leaders to exercise repentance for past harms they have committed. Apology IS an essential part of repentance. I don’t know how to make this more plain. The leadership of the CJCLDS has committed errors and mistakes, born of their zeal. The leaders of the CJCLDS never have, nor will they ever, repent of any offenses nor harm they have committed against members of the Church. That’s what I get out of it, and that is what the context of his speech upholds.

The significance of this bold self-indictment begins with realizing who is making this justification. Dallin is an ex State Supreme Court Justice. As such he has a professional history of executing justice and clemency on behalf of the People of the State of Utah. To get there he first had to undergo coursework in law, which includes recitations on the founding principles of our moral codes, their theories, their precedents by the early magistrates of English judicature. To be considered for such a prestigious civil appointment an attorney must demonstrate able command and adroitness in administering justice, accountability, and restitution. But what we find here since he vacated that office is a Chief High Priest, speaking for all his associate Apostates, that they as head of the CJCLDS do not have to comply with their own precepts!

A chief judge!
A chief high priest!

Reminiscences of the priests of Noah and the Gadianton robbers.

In making such a declaration Dallin, on behalf of all the Church leadership, sets at naught both the civil and Mormon ecclesiastical moral codes. They are all above the moral foundation of the principles of the Gospel, i.e., 2nd, Repentance (4th Article of Faith).

Well, so? Well the Atonement of Christ as they preach it is predicated upon repentance. If a person does not repent, one cannot have their transgressions forgiven. If the 15 Apostates have no need to repent, according the doctrines of their own Gospel (which applies to all men), then they have no need of the Atonement either. They are innocent and guiltless, even though they confess having made offenses and errors against members and nonmembers (LGBT etc ad nauseum). They don’t need  a Redeemer. They set at naught the agony, blood, and death, as well as the teachings of the very man whom they insist they represent on earth. This kind of infallibility not even the Popes claimed.

What does their sacred Book of Mormon say about this behavior?

“Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One--yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.”—Helaman 12:2

“Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide.”—Helaman12:6

So the 15 Apostates now assent to the crucifixion of Christ, because they claim they are above the need for repenting, the need to apologize and make right, being reconciled with the offended, and leaning upon the mercies of Him whom they claim is their head. They are without culpability even though they have offended the poor, meek and submissive of the Redeemer.

By their own Scriptures they indict themselves of their own wickedness. As Joseph did before them, boasting he did more for the “Church” than Jesus, they too say they have no need for Him, His works, His sufferings unto death, His permission to enter the highest degree of exaltation.

How did they get there?

“And now my beloved brethren, I say unto you, can ye withstand these sayings; yea, can ye lay aside these things, and trample the Holy One under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches?
Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another; yea, will ye persist in the persecution of your brethren, who humble themselves and do walk after the holy order of God, wherewith they have been brought into this church, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which are meet for repentance--
Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them?”—Alma 5: 53-55

With annual salaries in excess of 6-7 figures, it is no wonder their hearts have become so hard they can rationalize their mistakes under the broad definition of apology. In the Book of Mormon, no High Priest was better at subverting the laws and corrupting the moral codes than those who were also lawyers. With billions of wealth at their control, to construct extravagant apartments in prestigious and convenient locations downtown, with a modern shopping mall for their convenience, while less than 1% of the Church’s wealth is distributed to the poor, how could they not declare themselves privileged?

“And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor's trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation.”—Mosiah 26:31

Dallin Oaks and Boyd Packer also tell us that the "intellectual is an enemy to the Church." I should say! God forbid that anyone use the intelligence God endowed them with to search out Truth and Light (D&C 93:36). Forbid them to ask reasonable and perspicacious questions, demanding rational answers. Forbid them to find Truth anywhere useful, as counseled three times in their Doctrine and Covenants (88:118, 109:7, 109:14). In our search for Truth to increase our intelligence let us cover the Church leader's transgressions (D&C121:37), even though in so doing their Priesthood comes to an end because the heavens withdraw themselves.

Hannah Arendt, Holocaust survivor and researcher (a Jew), found from investigating the cause for the Hitlerian regime and the atrocities they committed, wrote the chief cause was failure of people at all civil levels was not to think, just obey their superiors, and ignore the consequences. As I have written elsewhere, the rise of Totalitarianism derives from this root behavior, a behavior characteristic of all religious cults. Don't think, don't question, don't challenge. Its done for you. Just obey. A totalitarian organization run by men declaring themselves above the doctrines of Salvation as they taught for over 150 years.

Notwithstanding this, I am astonished at the magnitude of cognitive dissonance permeating the minds of the members, who when learning of these things did not refuse to enter any chapel on the following Sunday, staying home to fill out their formal resignations from such a Church run by an abominable cadre of proud, doting men.


SethSmee

References
http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/2122123-155/no-apology-really-mormons-question-apostle

Helaman 12:2
Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One--yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.

Helaman 12:6
“Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide.”

Alma 30:32
“Now Alma said unto him: Thou knowest that we do not glut ourselves upon the labors of this people; for behold I have labored even from the commencement of the reign of the judges until now, with mine own hands for my support, notwithstanding my many travels round about the land to declare the word of God unto my people. And notwithstanding the many labors which I have performed in the church, I have never received so much as even one senine for my labor; neither has any of my brethren, save it were in the judgment-seat; and then we have received only according to law for our time. And now, if we do not receive anything for our labors in the church, what doth it profit us to labor in the church save it were to declare the truth, that we may have rejoicings in the joy of our brethren?”

Mosiah 26:31
“And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor's trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation.”

Alma 5:53-5
And now my beloved brethren, I say unto you, can ye withstand these sayings; yea, can ye lay aside these things, and trample the Holy One under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches?
Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another; yea, will ye persist in the persecution of your brethren, who humble themselves and do walk after the holy order of God, wherewith they have been brought into this church, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which are meet for repentance--
Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them?

The Rise of Totalitarianism Hannah Arendt