is the christian right's obsession with the "end of days" standing in the way of peace?

From where i'm looking, its totally plausible.

Orthodox Christianity and Mormonism believe that nothing since the very day of creation itself, will have more impact than when Christ "comes again".   Since the world was created ... not sliced bread, not microwaves, not even the birth of Jesus, but way back to before there was an earth or animals or plants.  Remember how that was nothing ... and how that got changed?  There will be a change that is that significant.  Its when Christ returns.  From this perspective, once Jesus comes again peace and happiness will reign.  

Problem is, according to the same sources, he is not able to come again until a number of horrible occurring first.   Which creates a weird "Catch 22", in fact even an environment of schadenfreuder as each travesty in the middle each is an inch closer to the blessed day.

Would the world be more peaceful world if the book of Revelations and these predictions of calamity were not in the Bible? 

From a Facebook exchange:   

peace is posible but not in this life. Mosiah 3:19 For the natural man is an enemy to God... it is in mans nature to be angry, want as many women as possible, greedy, and selfish. that is what this life is about. overcoming our natural man. if it wasnt we wouldnt need laws. i long for peace, my heart breaks that we have such a short time in this life and people waste it fighting and so many children grow up without a childhood and are taught to hate others. but i must be realistic. every ward has members who dont go to church because they dont like other mormons in their ward. if we cant even get along in amerca when we are in the same church how will the middle east come together? there has always been wars and as long as there are 2 or more people on the earth there will be wars.    

not leading with fear, leading with reality

This long range, not in this lifetime, perspective has impact on American foreign policy.  If negotiators hold this view point, where will/can we end up?

We need to be sure to employ only negotiators that believe in peace.  New and improved litmus test for the 21st Century: 'do you believe that peace is possible'?

If we don't ask the question, and continue to let the Mormons, Conservative Christians and Zionists who do not believe in peace, form our foreign policy, this is where they might take us:

• "The greatest war, slaughter, carnage, bloodshed, and desolation for all ages will be in full swing at the very hour when Christ returns. ...  All nations of the Earth shall be gathered at Jerusalem  at Armageddon, in the valley of Jeshaphat, the valley of decision.  It will be 'a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of think darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains'.  The hosts of Gog and Magog, the armies assembled to battle, shall be 'a great people and a strong; there hath not been eve the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.  A fire devoureth before them, and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them and desolate wilderness; yea and nothing share escape them" -- McConkie
• For the wicked descriptive words for this day include: sorrow, dreadful, desolation, burning, vengeance, 'judgment which the wicked shall not abide'.
• Christ will be in red and the costume is stunning! 'Like him that treadeth in a wine-vat'.  Which is often interpreted as symbolic of all the blood.  "And his voice shall be heard: I have trodden the winepress alone, and have brought judgement upon all people; and none were with me; An I have trampled them in my fury, and I did tread upon them in mine anger, and their blood have I sprinkled upon my garments, and stained all my raiment; for this was the day of vengeance which was in my heart (see D&C 133:41-51)
• When Jesus comes again, he will judge the nations and will divide the righteous from the wicked (see Matthew 25:31-46). "I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God . . . and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." The wicked he saw "lived not again until the thousand years were finished" (Revelation 20:4-5).

We will get what we aim for. 

Peace will prevail, eventually.  I hope it is soon.  I chose peace.  I hope others will too.  We can get there, but it will just require the meek to walk in boldness without weapons and in peace.  Which means it will take a whole lot of us.

May we walk on!

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some of the back-up from scriptures if your interested

• John 14:2-3; Matthew 26:64 (Jesus to prepare a place and come again)
• Malachi 3:2-3; 4:1; D&C 64:23-25 (earth to be burned)
• D&C 133:41-51 (wicked to be destroyed)
• Matthew 13:40-43 (the Judgment predicted)
• Romans 2:6-9; Revelation 20:12-13 (the Judgment)
• 1 Corinthians 15:40-42; D&C 78; 88:17-35 (degrees of glory)
• 2 Corinthians 12:2 (a man was caught up to the third heaven)
• D&C 43:29-30; 29:11 (the Savior's coming will usher in the Millennium)
• Articles of Faith 1:10 (Jesus to reign)
• Alma 11:43-44; Alma 40 (the Resurrection explained)
• Helaman 14:25 (the dead to rise)
• Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 11:15; 1 Nephi 22:24-26 (Jesus to reign as King)

Why I love Nancy Pelosi

this is such a perfect example of the genius and grace of nancy pelosi.

watch how she responds as a young journalist suggests she needs to step down because she is old.  exchange begins at 2:00

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if you're curious, i found her opening remarks inspiring.  she holds her own with such grace i love it!

303 becomes 420+

just sayin'

this guy was a prophet ...

EXHALE

i wrote this on my "wall" a moment ago.  my GOP friends are heartbroken and its a bummer to watch.  i know the feeling. i'm grateful that some friends will know understand a tinge of the agony of 2000.    won the popular vote. lost by just over 500 votes in FL. hard a pill would that be to swallow.

so after having swallowed that pill, its a glorious morning.  so in my jubilation i wrote this:

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." 

we all voted with our hearts. with hope for a better world. if we keep the hope of the better world alive, we can achieve it. not through fighting, but through really listening to each other. 

we are scruffy lot! our democracy is ugly and we get nasty. we fight with love, passion and deep conviction. 

may the next 4 years be a time of healing for us all. may we work harder to understand where the other is coming from. may we learn empathy for each other's suffering. my the wounds of war, both seen and unseen, be cared for and healed. 

restoration of america's place as the harbinger of hope is possible. america can lead the way in securing that every person lives in dignity. in safe society that allows us to fulfill our greatest potential. where 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is guaranteed.
we aren't there: yet. 

let's come together to build a more perfect union. not just as the 50 states, but as a global community. 

out of many, one. america is the land of many. but we are one. and because we are one, we are one with the rest of the world. 

SOMOS AMERICANOS! (that is for you Lee Fleming) 

*if your still reading thanks ... i was really feeling this! ;)

Mormons and Voter Intimidation?

this is not a singular experience.  others have shared on the Mormons for Obama Facebook page and at mormonstories.org etc.  it does seem a bit oppressive.

it will be interesting to see if more of this pops up.  i know that during Prop 8, friends in California felt their temple recommends threatened for not having anti-gay marriage signs in their yard. another friend's husband gave the anti-movement money simply because he felt like it would jeopardize their social status in the ward if they didn't.


from the Mormons for Obama facebook:

This morning's seminary kinda went off the rails. Here's what I sent to our stake president, and bishop in an email: 

<<<<

At this morning's seminary, (the seminary teacher) began by saying this week was going to be exciting, concluding with words that included, "and we're getting a new president!!!!". 

What followed was many of the students making loud, hateful comments towards President Obama.

With several other adults present, none of them reminded the class regarding the Church's neutrality on such comments.

What would be your counsel on such matters?

Anne and I feel this behavior is totally inappropriate for seminary and (the seminary teacher) failed to provide the proper spirit for seminary, supported by the adults in attendance (Brother xxxxx and Sister xxxxx).

The Church has been quite clear on how we are to approach political issues (page 41 of the October Ensign).

What should be the consequences of this behavior in your estimation?

Thank you>>>

My 17 year old daughter came home in tears.

Mormons and Voter Fraud

of all the things that have been painful, and frankly scary about this election, the hardest thing to swollow has been romney's lack of adherence to the truth.

as mormons, we have a rich doctrine of the concepts of truth.  we believe that truth is light, knowledge, power.  that it has matter.  it is transformative.  nothing in the presence of truth can remain unchanged.  we believe that all truth point to other truths. that truth exists in the "great whole" of the universe.

since the nature of man and God in mormonism is also so central both to the faith and to understand the depth of Romney's offense against my soul, i think i should also explain this just a bit.

"as man is, God once was.  and as God is, man may become."  we are in an eternal process headed not just towards godhood, but eternal joy.  bliss.  nirvana.  whatever you want to call it.

we believe that God has a body as tangible as yours.  that when you meet God, you can shake his/her hand.

yes, that is right.  mormons pray to both a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother.  I can't ever really pray to my Heavenly Mother in public, nor do I even like talking with Her in front of people.  We have an intimate relationship.  I talk to Her about all the deepest fears, hopes, all sexual stuff, etc.

with my Heavenly Father, i can pray about money, work, world peace.  since we usually at more macro, its easier to talk with him in public.

i don't know why i break it out like this.  i'm sure it is because i was socialized into some serious gender norms.  but whatever.  this is how i conceive of God and so do the rest of us mormons. (at least the less personal aspects.  i'm sure each mormon has their own personal relationship with their Parents the same way we all do within our own families).

mormons believe in the supreme God, Elohim   but that just means God of Gods really.  we are a bit more Shinto than many imagine.  we believe that our forefathers and mothers are with us still.  they love us, and are heavenly parents to us.  we have the all power, God of God who is the Father and Mother of Christ and from there, we are all in one way siblings.

so, when we go to church with each other, we call each other brother and sister.  i mean it (though i prefer to call people by their first names).  but i love the concept.  you are my sister or my brother, whoever you are that i'm writing to or talking with.


if the voter fraud that the romney and Flake campaign is accused of is true i will sorely disappointed.  frankly, i'd expect it from romney.  he is like that.  win at all costs, amoral, selfish, stereotypical millionaire candidate.

but brother flake?  i've sat in sunday school with you.  we are from the same hometown.  you are a man of honor who doesn't want to be in any office you won illegally right?  heck, i'd take you for the kind of guy who wouldn't want to win if its wasn't a fair ans square victory.  so, WTF with this?  and can you fix it?

remember

"We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.

 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of cconscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.

We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign."  (D&C 134:1-3)

so, i guess, there might really be hell to pay for this one?

romney gets testy about mormonism

this video is painful to watch.  i'd kinda wish it didn't exist ... because i wish the guy running neck-and-neck for the presidency of the US should be more poised, humble, honest, and compassionate.  to me the office should be reserved for "noble and great" ones.

this video is proof of what we've all known ... romney is the kind of guy that does this.  you know the kind.

ask yourself if romney can successfully promote peace, prosperity, and hope across the world with this type of worldview.

i'm so freaked out by this video that i just have to share it so that i don't have to carry the burden of its knowledge alone anymore.  (disclaimer, i've known about it for less than 2 hours)

this is not actual mormon doctrine as i know it.  i'm sure there will be doctrinal refutations soon. i will post them i'd do it, but i'm tired, and its just way out there.

silver lining of sandy

ric burns take on the destruction in NYC/NJ and what it means for the future is really beautiful.  basically testifies that america always rebuilds itself into something amazing.  we start a whole new thing.  something never conseved of by anyone.  but we all catch a vision of it and collectively go for it.  out of many one. e pluribus unum.


thanks!

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rugged individualism's greed and self serving has always run contrary to the nobility of real america.  real america was built by prophets, seers, & revelators who showed us a place where everyone's divine nature was recognized and honored.  revolutionaries and renegades fought to insure that all live in dignity and glory to their God.  and frankly, it has been prostitutes, "the mentally ill", preachers, sophistrists that helped us establish a separation of church and state that would allow all men to worship how, when, who and what, they may.

each american is a son or daughter of the signers of this constitution.  this document is written in our DNA.  we decided to take what people dreamed of, and make it a reality.  and we did.  we are still in search of a more perfect union.  may this election be as divided as we get.  as you read this, please envision what we might be able to do if as a country we decided to come together to rebuild the Most perfect union we've ever had and restore our place on the globe as a moral, technical, and political leader.

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer,James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton