Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Conspiracy and Secret Combinations

I love the show/movie The X Files. When I was young I watched a show that was first aired in 1974 through 1975 called “Kolchak: The Night Stalker”. How I loved this show! This was about a newspaper reporter investigates strange supernatural occurrences in Chicago. It was the forerunner to the X Files. I liked these shows because I am somewhat of a nerd as my daughter likes to say. But mostly I liked the X Files because of the conspiracy behind the stories of space aliens. I have never been a fan of our government. Don’t get me wrong, The Republic is a wonderful form of government. But that kind of money and power is not to be trusted. That is why the founders gave us the 2nd Amendment. To keep our leaders in check a little bit. So I am a conspiracy nut. I question some things that have happened. My wife is similar but we don’t always agree on which events are conspiracies. When something significant happens in the world or this country, I usually default to whether a conspiracy was involved. Now to be truthful, I may joke about it or even have a passing wonder, but really for the most part, I don’t feel most things are a conspiracy. The problem is, some of them are. I can’t prove anything but it’s hard to believe that no events have a conspiracy behind them. Why do I think this way? Before you blame it on too much TV and movies, let’s look at things that I believe are true.
Apostle Ezra Taft Benson said this in Conference April 1972
“Now undoubtedly Moroni could have pointed out many factors that led to the destruction of the people, but notice how he singled out the secret combinations, just as the Church today could point out many threats to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God’s work, but it has singled out the greatest threat as the godless conspiracy. There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon —it is a conspiracy fact.”
In Ether 8:18 it says:
“18 And it came to pass that they formed a secret combination, even as they of old; which combination is most abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God;”
This why I believe as I do. These conspiracies, or secret combinations, will get above us.
Also in Ether 8
“23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.
24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.”
Have we as the LDS Church become “awake to a sense of your awful situation”? If now is not that time prophesied in those scriptures then I’m not sure when they will happen. I believe this is happening now. These are some more reasons for my thinking.
Secret combinations have secret signs and words (Helaman 6:22), protect one another (Helaman 6:21, 23), and mingle into society in a manner whereby they cannot be found (Helaman 1:12).
The teachings and practices of the robbers are tempting and corrupt the hearts of the people as they spread, eventually even seducing most of the righteous into believing in their works, partaking of their spoils, and even becoming involved in their secret murders and combinations (Helaman 6:38; Ether 9:6).
One of the purposes of secret combinations is to gain power (Helaman 2:8; Ether 8:23, 11:15) by usurping power and authority over the people (Helaman 7:4). They seek to gain sole power over the government and, in the Book of Mormon, were successful in doing so (Helaman 6:39).
Secret combinations seek to overthrow government (3 Nephi 7:6), establish kings – or oligarchies (see Mosiah 29:21–22) – and destroy the liberty of a republic (3 Nephi 6:30, 7:10); the king-men believe they have the blood of nobility (Alma 51:21).
“And do not think that these usurpations, intimidations, and impositions are being done to us through inadvertence or mistake; The whole course is deliberately planned and carried out; its purpose is to destroy the Constitution and our constitutional government; then to bring chaos, out of which the new Statism with its slavery is to arise, with a cruel, relentless, selfish, ambitious crew in the saddle, riding hard with whip and spur, a red-shrouded band of night riders for despotism.” (J. Reuben Clark, jr.,Church News, September 25, 1949)
“Gadianton robbers fill the judgement seats in many nations. An evil power seeks to overthrow the freedom of all nations and countries.” (Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, speaking in the April 1980 General Conference)
“It is the terrorist organizations that must be ferreted out and brought down. We of this Church know something of such groups. The Book of Mormon speaks of the Gadianton robbers, a vicious, oath-bound, and secret organization bent on evil and destruction. In their day they did all in their power, by whatever means available, to bring down the Church, to woo the people with sophistry, and to take control of the society. We see the same thing in the present situation.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference, October, 2001)
Because of these scriptures and quotes, and more, I believe this conspiracy is alive and well and doing the work of the adversary.
There are others who feel the same as I in, and out, of the Church.
http://www.nachumlist.com/deadpool.htm
I only bring this “crazy talk” up because it does affect you and your family’s security and defense. If you can get your own houses in order and prepare for the worse but hope for the best then you and your loved ones will weather the storm better and survive.
Here are books I would recommend to “corrupt your brain” (said with tongue in cheek) with information. Some members will try to wave you off of this kind of thinking. Do not let them. The scriptures and prophets are clear, we must become educated and awake to our awful situation.
None Dare Call It Conspiracy (Gary Allen) – recommended in Conference by Ezra Taft Benson
(I can remember my Dad having a case of these in his study. I guess he was spreading the word)
The Naked Communist (W. Cleon Skousen) – recommended in Conference by David O. McKay
The Naked Capitalist (W. Cleon Skousen) – important sequel to The Naked Communist
The 5000-Year Leap (W. Cleon Skousen) – perhaps the most well-read LDS work on liberty
The Elders of Israel and the Constitution (Jerome Horowitz) – Recommended in Conference by Ezra Taft Benson
The Book of Mormon and the Constitution (H. Verlan Andersen) – LDS General Authority and very close friend to Ezra Taft Benson
The Moral Basis of a Free Society (H. Verlan Andersen)
An Enemy Hath Done This (Ezra Taft Benson, compilation of political speeches)
The Law (Frederic Bastiat) – not an LDS author but quoted heavily by Ezra Taft Benson
Prophets, Principles, And National Survival (Compiled by Jerrald L. Newquist) Quotes of the brethren published in 1964
These are just a beginning. There are many talks and books on this subject out there. I would caution you to not go crazy with this. It can be scary or at least become obsessive. Also, many LDS members, including local leaders, have a problem with this thinking and with this information. If you feel compelled to share, do so prayerfully and with restraint. I have argued with members who can’t seem to give me an answer why these scriptures exist. Why was President Benson so adamant about all of this? Was he the “nutty” Apostle and Prophet? One thing I noticed about President Benson that I like to share is he worked in government. He was hand-picked by U.S. President Eisenhower to be the Secretary of Agriculture from 1952 to 1960. He had been ordained an Apostle in 1943. He saw government up close and personal. He knew how it worked intimately. As an Apostle he wrote and spoke extensively about conspiracy. In 1985 he became the Lords Prophet. His counselors were President Hinckley and President Monson. As Prophet I think he looked for a way to continue his warning and he found that way.
He said in April Conference 1986:
"The Book of Mormon has not been, nor is it yet, the center of our personal study, family teaching, preaching, and missionary work. Of this we must repent" (Ensign 16 [May 1986]:5-6).
This is how we can learn of secret combinations (conspiracies) and how to recognize them. I believe it is too late to stop them, but we can be prepared to fight them and help our families to survive their influence.
I will also add, vote. I know it seems useless sometimes, but vote anyway.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn

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