OVERVIEW:

In Alma 23-29, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies are converted to the Lord. The Anti-Nephi-Lehies seek safety among the Nephites.  Ammon and Alma rejoice in the accomplishment of the Lord’s work.

These passages of scripture bring to life the joy of helping people come unto Christ. The sons of Mosiah and Alma were magnificent instruments in the hands of God to bring about the conversion of thousands of Lamanites. The remarkable thing about these Lamanite conversions is that they did not fall away. A study of this lesson will encourage us to strengthen our conversion and increase our desire to help others become converted.

Here is this week's lesson handout: Book of Mormon Lesson 26.

Synopsis of the story in the chapters assigned:

• Alma 23–24. Thousands of Lamanites are converted after being taught by the sons of Mosiah. The converted Lamanites call themselves the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. As a testimony to God that they will never again sin through the shedding of blood, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies bury their swords and refuse to take them up when an army of Lamanites attacks.
• Alma 27–28. Ammon leads the Anti-Nephi-Lehies to seek safety among the Nephites. The Nephites give the Anti-Nephi-Lehies the land of Jershon and pledge to defend them against their enemies. The Lamanites come again to battle against the Nephites and are defeated.
• Alma 26, Alma 29. Ammon glories in the Lord as he reviews the success he and his brethren have had in preaching to the Lamanites. Alma wishes that joy might come to all through repentance and the plan of redemption.

Doug Simpson

pax vobiscum

]]> http://markcares.wordpress.com/?p=23 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:23:10 +0000 markcares http://markcares.wordpress.com/?p=23

One of the worst things you can tell a Mormon is that they believe in a different Jesus. Many ex-Mormons have told me that fewer things angered them more when they were Mormons than being confronted by well-meaning Christians with this statement. Mormons can’t understand why anybody would say that. They have a very high regard for Jesus. They are members of the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints. Nothing seems more ridiculous to a Mormon than when a Christian tells them that they have a different Jesus. When Christians confront Mormons with that statement, than they typically will have cut off all lines of communication with them.

It’s much more effective to get into a discussion with a Mormon not on who Jesus is, but what Jesus has accomplished for us. Instead of confronting them with what they believe about Jesus, ask them questions. Give them the opportunity to tell you what they believe. Focus especially on the question, “Did Jesus do everything for us to live with Heavenly Father or do we have to do something in order to live with Heavenly Father?” That’s a telling question because Mormonism says they have to do a lot to live with Heavenly Father. You then can share with them how differently you believe. You can tell them that you will be in heaven for all eternity with God the Father, not because of anything you have done, but only because of what Jesus has done for you. In this way, without saying it, you can effectively show them how differently you view Jesus.

So, my friends, may I encourage you today to speak the truth in love and respect to Mormons.

Last Wednesday (July 16) the Massachusetts Senate moved one step closer to making the state a Las Vegas for same-sex marriage by voting to repeal a 1913 law that forbid residents from out of state to come and marry in Massachusetts if their union would be illegal in their own state. The House is poised to follow suit later this week and then Governor Deval Patrick, who has a lesbian daughter, will have ten days to sign on which he is expected to do.

Governor Mitt Romney had invoked this law and ordered town clerks to follow it after the Massachusetts Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. The repeal was driven in part by California's legalization of same-sex marriage where there is no residency requirement. The Massachusetts Office of Housing and Economic Development claimed that repealing the law would boost the state economy $111 million, create 330 jobs and generate $5 million in taxes and fees over three years. However, there is no calculating the cost of demolishing marriage for the rest of society.

The study assumes New York would provide the largest number of gay couples-more than 21,000-with other New England states bringing the total to 30,000 in three years.

Gay marriage advocates try to brush off any consequences. Marc Solomon of MassEquality said, "We think this issue has lost some of its edge. It's just not a big deal. Americans look at this and they wonder why these groups are constantly talking about gay marriage when gas prices and the war in Iraq are so much more critical." History does not agree with this evaluation. Sexual license and the abandoning of monogamy and marriage has felled civilization's greatest societies. (See below.)

Mass Equality, the group pushing same-sex marriage in the state has set a goal of making same-sex marriage legal in every New England state within five years, but Kris Mineau of the Massachusetts Family Institute say they will never give up the fight. He said, "The Massachusetts Senate has no right to infringe on the internal issues of how other states define marriage, but that's exactly what they voted today to do."

Brian Camenker, president of the pro-family group MassResistance, is dismayed not only at the outcome, but the method. "It's one thing to lose a vote, but it's certainly horrible the way they did it. It was cowardly. It was undemocratic. It was obscene the way it was handled," he argues. Four lawmakers spoke briefly in favor of repealing the law and none spoke against the proposal. Then in less than one minute, says Camenker, the presiding officer called for a voice vote and announced that the repeal had passed.

"I've never seen anything like that," Camenker exclaims. "Nobody, obviously, nobody wanted their name in front of this. Nobody was willing to get up and say anything," he continues. "You know, somebody could have at least called for a roll call vote. But it was...as cowardly as anything I've ever seen. This was completely choreographed by the gay movement," Camenker concludes. He adds that calling the process "sleazy doesn't even do it justice."

Marriage Protection Amendment will be on California Ballot

Same-sex marriage advocates would have liked nothing better than to silence California voters by taking the marriage protection amendment off the ballot in November. Their goal is to shove their agenda down our throats even if it requires the most unfair tactics. To that end they filed a petition with the California Supreme Court that sought to remove the initiative measure from the ballot that had been signed by 1.1 million citizens. Yesterday in a unanimous vote, the Supreme Court said no.

On June 2, 2008, the initiative was certified as having qualified for the ballot and on June 20, traditional marriage opponents filed their measure. The petition, which was viewed by most as a desperate attempt to stop the amendment, argued a) that the measure was a "revision" rather than a constitutional "amendment" and thus could only be adopted by a constitutional convention and b) the petitions that were circulated for signatures contained a summary that materially misstated the proposed initiative's effects. The California Supreme Court did not agree.

Three Generations to Decline?

Every day the Family Leader website (http://www.familyleader.net/) is updated with important articles. Today we feature In Defense of Marriage by S. Michael Craven.

Craven writes, "Let's examine the historical findings relative to those cultures that once held to a strong sexual ethic-in which monogamy is strictly reinforced through marriage-but later compromised that ethic, as we are now doing. According to J.D. Unwin's thorough survey of history, any and every culture that embraces a philosophy of sexual freedom for a period of at least three generations will inevitably experience cultural decline (J.D. Unwin, Sexual Regulations and Cultural Behavior, 1935).

"There is not one single example in all of human history where this cultural pattern appears and there does not follow cultural demise consistent with Unwin's conclusions. (I would estimate that we are in the latter stages of the second generation.)

"History is replete with examples that testify to this fact. The Greek, Roman, Babylonian, and Sumerian empires are just a few examples of cultures that began with a strong marriage-centered monogamy and later degenerated into liberal sexual practices (including homosexuality), which, according to the sociological and anthropological evidence, was central to their downfall. Of course, our own culture has suffered enormously in the wake of the American sexual revolution; the societal costs of paternal absence, divorce, and out-of-wedlock births have been staggering.

"Pitirim A. Sorokin, the renowned Russian-born sociologist who founded the sociology department at Harvard, describes the basis for this degenerative pattern:

"If more and more individuals are brought up in this sex-saturated atmosphere, then without deep interiorization of religious, moral, and legal norms of behavior, they will become rudderless boats controlled only by the winds of their environment. (Sorokin, The American Sex Revolution, Boston, MA: Porter Sargent, 1956, p. 55.)

"Sorokin conducted his own study of history and likewise stressed that marriage is "the most decisive factor in the survival and well-being" of society. Based on his sociological study of historical civilizations, Dr. Sorokin warned that "any change in marriage behavior, any increase in sexual promiscuity, and illicit sexual relations is pregnant with momentous consequences," adding that a "sex revolution drastically affects the lives of millions, deeply disturbs the community and decisively influences the future of society." We have already seen changes in marriage behavior with the extension of sexual opportunities outside marriage beginning in the 1960s. Predictably promiscuity increased exponentially within the subsequent generation, as manifested in today's "hook-up" culture; now a revolution of unprecedented proportions threatens in the form of legalizing same-sex marriage (SSM), a first in human history.

"It is the height of arrogance, ignorance, or both that argues against the unique nature of marriage and its necessity to social stability and well-being. However, with more than four decades following the American sexual revolution, this should not be surprising because, as Sorokin pointed out, "in the conditions of spiritual, moral, and mental anarchy ... it is difficult to maintain sexual sanity."

Stiff Right Jab contributing editor, Maurine Proctor, is the President of Family Leader Foundation, the Co-founder and Editor in Chief of Meridian Magazine, and founder and publisher of This People magazine. A Harvard University Graduate, she has written and edited several books, worked for The Chicago Sun-Times and is an award-winning documentary writer and producer.

Last week we had another excellent discussion, regarding abortion.

I hope for the same with this week's unique topic: Relationship with LDS Church.

I'll leave this pretty open, but some things to consider:

• How do the candidates compare regarding their past relationship with the LDS Church? Things they have said and done? Relationships and interactions with Church leaders and prominent Church members?
• Are there important issues regarding Obama's and McCain's religious beliefs that might be important here?
• What might a McCain or Obama administration mean, if anything, for the growth and public relations of the Church, both at home and abroad?
• And does this even matter? Does the President's relationship with the Church matter all that much?

One important resource regarding these questions might be Michael K. Winder's 2007 book, Presidents and Prophets (which I have not read).

I look forward once again to a lively and respectful discussion.

Next week: Healthcare.

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It was great to help prepare him with FHE's (family home evenings) by going through the "Preach My Gospel" manual and teaching him as my wife and I were taught not even a year ago by the missionaries.  We started this process a few months before he was to turn eight and be baptized.

From going to Church and Primary (Sunday School) for the past year, he knew lots of concepts already concerning the Plan of Happiness/Salvation and the things we must do to return home again, like: being baptized, following the commandments, taking sacrament every week.

I took him to his baptismal interview the Tuesday before.  (See: A Convert’s Survival Guide: What to Expect BEFORE your Baptism)  I had learned that his Sunday dress shirt was missing so on the way home I ran into Wal-Mart and was in and out of the store in a record five minutes by sneaking in and out my secret location: The garden section!

When I got home, I got him dressed and we were out the door in less than three minutes.  We arrived at the Church about fifteen minutes early and we waited patiently outside the Bishop's office.  The Bishop finally arrived 25 minutes later and into his office they went to talk.

I patiently waited outside for what seemed like ten to fifteen minutes until he called me in as well so he could fill out the records for his Baptism and Confirmation.  I was impressed at the knowledge he divulged to the Bishop and his retention.  He made me very proud.

We happily visted McDonalds' drive thru to pick up an ice cream cone and then we drove home.

On Friday, we visited Deseret Book Store to get him his very own scriptures and carry tote. We ended up getting him a regular-sized quad which contained: The Old Testament, The New Testament, The Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.  Also, we got him a CTR ring he wanted and I got a cool deal on my painting of Jesus that I talked about earlier this month.

Saturday came up very quickly.  Before we left the house, I felt my heart swell as I looked at him.  He looked like "a mormonboy." I never would have thought my children to be mormon, but now I can't imagine raising my children without the gospel and principles we have. 

I have to admit, I didn't go obsessive about preparing since I've been involved in two baptisms already: my own and I performed my wife's.

A few hours before hand I got our bag ready:

Extra change of underwear for my son, an extra pair of socks as well.  For myself, I brought an extra undershirt, pair of underwear and socks.

I went over with my son how our hands were to be intertwined, what I would say and how I he would plug his nose and I would put my hand behind his back to dunk him.

I also studied again what was to be said when performing his baptism, which was:

[Calling him by his full name], having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

We arrived at the stake center a few minutes earlier than requested and we got changed into our jumpsuits.  There was one more baptism taking place during the service, an eight year old girl from another ward.  I was hoping I would go after they did so I could watch and be sure I was doing this correctly.  This wasn't the case, I was told that our family was going first.

We followed the usual program that I wrote about before hand in: A Convert’s Survival Guide: What to Expect at your Baptism.

I went first and took my son's hand and led him into the font.  The water was nice and warm and we set up as the little children ran to sit down on the floor in front of the font and watch.  He wasn't nervous at all, very happy.   I wasn't nervous at all either, I was guided by the Spirit and I baptized him.  Immediately afterwards I could see a great, warm smile on his face.  I was proud of him and gave him a little hug and led him out of the water.

Now getting changed afterwards was a different story.  It was a bit could in the bathrooms and the poor boy was shivering.  I worked quick to get him dried off and dressed and sent him out.  I followed shortly after changing as well.

Then after they were done singing their interlude hymn, it was time for me to confirm him a member of the Church.  This part I studied in the past and then again a few hours before his baptism.  When I was first baptized, the man who helped us to learn the gospel and baptize me handed me a blue card with the prayers for ordinances that the priesthood can perform. 

I checked and double checked and studied this card up until right after my son's baptism, right after getting changed.

Again, it was time to confirm him a member of the Church.  I looked at the attending Stake official and my wonderful Bishop to motion them up to help me confirm him.  This was my first time confirming and I was very nervous.  There was a lot of my non-member family members attending, some friends and the people supporting the girl that was being baptized as well.  I was nervous.

It all went away when I put my hands on my son's head and closed my eyes.  I was again guided by the Spirit in confirming him a member of the Church and giving him a blessing.  The words coming out my mouth came out without any filter our any forethought.  I even surprised myself by what had happened.  After the confirmation, my son rubbed his eyes and got up with a smile and we all congratulated him before taking our seats again.

The prayer I said to confirm my son was:

[Calling him by his full name], in the name of Jesus Christ and by the Authority of theHoly Melchizedek Priesthood, I confirm you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and say unto you, receive the Holy Ghost.  [Then a blessing as the spirit dictates].

See: A Convert’s Survival Guide: What to Expect AFTER your Baptism, to learn more about confirmation.

I was glad to have my mother-in-law there and my brother.  Baptisms can be a great missionary tool, as the Spirit is undeniably present during such.  My friend, Mike, who I didn't know made it until after the service showed up afterwards and surprised me.   I looked at him with a smile and told him joyfully again: "It's all your fault!"

Also in attendance was one of the missionaries that helped teach the us our original lessons a year ago and attended my wife's and my own baptisms.  The funny story about this was that we couldn't get a hold of them to make it to the baptism and they were coming back from fetching lunch and decided to stop by the church since they saw some cars there and then upon closer inspection, our minivan!

I was glad he could make it, it made it much more special and his support for our family is much appreciated and needed.  Through crowd and confusion, I did miss a few minutes of watching my son.  My missionary told me that my son said:

I want to be baptized every day!

My heart swelled again and I was proud of him for the step forward he has taken.  And I am also so happy for my wonderful wife and the support and growing she has been ongoingly giving to us all.  I truly couldn't do anything without her, she is my light in the gospel.  She is my best friend and she knows me and what I need, as well as she knows all my sons and what they need as well. 

I am happy our family can be together forever and I am happy my sons has taken his first steps to make it back to our Heavenly Father.

I have noticed in the Mormon church that there is an incessant urging to its members to be worthy or to become perfect. Hardly a week goes by without being told, in some way or another, to strive to be worthy. Matthew 5:48 is quoted often which reads, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” All this emphasis on striving to be worthy or becoming perfect can be nothing less than torturous with great stress and anxiety for many in the LDS church. It can often lead them to despair.

In striking contrast, think of the tremendous comfort that Christians receive from passages like Hebrews 10:14 which says: “by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Christians don’t have to strive to become perfect or become worthy because we receive perfection through Jesus. Jesus came to keep God’s law perfectly for us because we could not do it alone. He came to pay for all our sins with his death on the cross. He became our substitute. By faith, God now considers all those who trust in Christ as their substitute to be perfect and worthy enough. That is the great message He wants us to hear and to accept.

That message of Jesus’ being perfect or worthy for us is the message Mormons desperately need to hear. That is the message you need to share with them.

My name is Mark Cares, encouraging you to speak the truth in love to Mormons.

They were available online for free and I had downloaded them before, but I didn't like how it sounded in my car when playing off my iPod.   A few weeks ago we went to Deseret Book Store and I picked up the Hymns CD.   So I purchased the Hymn CD and burned them in iTunes.

While copying it, I finally heard the song that I heard in General Conference: God of Our Fathers, We Come unto Thee - Hymn 76!

I love how it is sung and also the words to it.

You can here it for yourself by clicking here.

In  Alma 17-22, the sons of Mosiah preach the gospel to the Lamanites. Ammon serves and teaches King Lamoni, and many of the people are converted.  Ammon is led by the Spirit to deliver his brethren. Lamoni’s father is converted.

As the editor of this record, Mormon now reintroduces the sons of King Mosiah, Alma the Younger's friends. He reminds us of who these men were so that we may better follow the story. His review reminds us that only fourteen years earlier they were enemies of the church. His description includes their relationship to Alma and his conversion as well as their current spiritual status. Even though they had been converted, it is important to note that they had remained valiant servants of the Lord. The strength of their conversion was equal to that of Alma the Younger.

The sons of Mosiah demonstrate the attitude and behavior of truly converted souls. They are dedicated missionaries for the Lord Jesus Christ. They teach with the power and authority of God. They are led by the Spirit in all that they do.  A study of this lesson will inspire us to follow the example of the sons of Mosiah by sharing the gospel and ministering to others.

Here is this week's lesson handout: Book of Mormon Lesson 25 .

Synopsis of the story in the chapters assigned:

• Alma 17:1–18. The sons of Mosiah preach the gospel to the Lamanites.
• Alma 17:19–39; Alma 18; Alma 19. Ammon serves and teaches King Lamoni. The king and queen and many of the Lamanites are converted.
• Alma 20–22. Ammon is led by the Spirit to deliver his brethren from prison. Lamoni’s father is converted.

Doug Simpson

pax vobiscum

A few weeks ago, we went shopping at a Deseret Book Store in town and my son wanted a CTR Ring.  If you do not know what "CTR" means, it means "Choose The Right."   "Choose the Right" is is taught to children and used by members of the church as a reminder to act righteously.  I guess it could be compared to the more common letter combination "WWJD."  Which means "What would Jesus Do?"

"Choose the right" is also a hymn #239 in the Hymn Book.

I was excited to see my son absorbing the message to choose the right (thing to do).  I feel it is important to teach our children as much as we can before they reach the years where they will really be put to the test.

Another thing to note recently is that Douglas Coy Miles, the CTR Ring creator,  recently passed away.  An online article in the Salt Lake Tribune recently ran:

By Peggy Fletcher Stack of The Salt Lake Tribune

Few Mormons will know his name, but most will know the artifacts that Douglas Coy Miles helped create and produce for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints - the CTR ring, the Duty to God award, Young Women's medallion, the Relief Society pendant and Articles of Faith wall hangings.

Miles, a natural-born salesman who died July 4 of congestive heart failure at 91, was one of those behind-the-scenes players who friends and family members say brought energy and enthusiasm to the church he loved.

He was born in Baker, Ore., to Earl and Verdie Miles, third of four children. He served an East Central States LDS mission, 1936-38. He met Blanche Bowen, at Brigham Young University and they married Jan. 26, 1943.

After the war, Miles earned a law degree from the University of Utah, which is where he met Marion D. Hanks, a future LDS general authority, who became his lifelong friend. The two taught early morning seminary together at Salt Lake City's West High School during the late 1940s and early 1950s.

They worked on a program to improve the guided tours on Temple Square. Hanks went on to other assignments with the church hierarchy while Miles remained a tour guide on the Square for some 20 years.

Professionally, Miles established O.C. Tanner's first national sales force. In 1955, he joined the L.G. Balfour Co. as national sales manager, and worked with Chevrolet and GM, creating original incentive programs. He soon used that expertise to help provide physical rewards for LDS programs.

For the winners of all-church athletic competitions, Miles developed a trophy using a heavy round cast medallion (silver, gold, bronze) on an ebony base. To signify the completion of young women or young men requirements, Miles created little glass disks that could be glued on felt bandelos.

When someone with the Boy Scouts observed that the LDS Church was the only religion to not have some kind of Boy Scout award or pin, officials asked Miles to develop one.

"Dad came up with the Duty to God award," said Kent Miles, his son. "I believe it was Avaard Fairbanks who did the original sculpture of the buffalo skull used for the award."
When General Relief Society President Belle Spafford wanted to use the remaining funds in her budget to offer the church a lasting legacy, she turned to Miles for suggestions. He connected her with Bill Pera, who owned Kashaba Carpets.

"They were able to obtain a stunning rug that now is in the main hall [of the LDS Administration Building] at 47 E. South Temple," Kent Miles said. "At that time Dad also donated a beautiful Persian rug that still, I believe, is in the entrance to the First Presidency office."

To view the original article, click here.

Well, this last week we've been having a very interesting discussion regarding McCain and Obama on the economy (mostly between Ryan and Leo -- thanks for all your contributions). There is a lot of good information there, for those who are interested.

I've been looking forward to this week's forum on abortion. This is one area where uniquely LDS values will certainly come into play. I hope that whoever wants to is not afraid to share their perspective -- and I encourage all commenters to be respectful of others' views.

Historically, Obama and McCain have been very much pro-choice and pro-life, respectively. And McCain has been talking this up a lot more than Obama lately. Whenever McCain brings up his pro-life stance at his town hall meetings, he receives a standing ovation. Obama has been quiet on this issue, but he's going to have to address it head on, I think, before long (including his historical support for partial-birth abortion). If Obama is not careful, this could turn into a major wedge issue. But should it be? What do you think?

McCain is certainly more in line with most LDS views on abortion -- this is so obvious that it hardly deserves much debate, in my opinion (although some worry that McCain might become supportive of an abortion stance that is far more conservative than the Church's official position). But the question still remains how much this matters. How much does it matter for the President to be pro-life? For this President?

One crucial issue, of course, is the Supreme Court. The judges who McCain and Obama say they will appoint just happen to be (big surprise!) the types of judges who will be for or against reversing Roe v. Wade (respectively). On the Freedom forum (round 5), I left the following comment that applies here:

One thing to keep in mind is that the two oldest judges are liberal ones: Stevens is 88 and Ginsburg is 75. So, if McCain is elected, we will almost certainly see Stevens resign or die within McCain’s 4 or 8 years in office, and he will almost certainly be replaced by a very conservative judge (depending on how much of a majority the Democrats will have in the Senate and how hard they are willing to fight). This would make the court a truly conservative court — right now it is 4-4 with one swinger. This could have enormous ramifications for something like the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

On the other hand, I don’t think there’s much room to worry about the Court getting more liberal during an Obama presidency. But a replacement of old liberal judges with young liberal judges certainly will keep the court from turning conservative any time soon.

So, if the most important thing in the world for you is to overturn Roe v. Wade, then McCain is your man.

Apart from a possible Roe v. Wade reversal, it is questionable how much a conservative president will make a difference regarding the problem of abortion. Indeed, some have made the argument that someone like Obama might actually be a better candidate in terms of reducing unwanted abortions.

One question I'd like to hear answers to: If you dislike where one of the candidates stands on abortion -- what could he say or do that would make you more likely to support him?

Looking forward to a lively (and respectful) discussion ...

Next week: Relationship with LDS Church

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"Now, we find many people critical when a righteous person is killed, a young father or mother is taken from a family, or when violent deaths occur. Some become bitter when oft-repeated prayers seem unanswered. Some lose faith and turn sour when solemn administrations by holy men seem to be ignored and no restoration seems to come from repeated prayer circles. But if all the sick were healed, if all the righteous were protected and the wicked destroyed, the whole program of the Father would be annulled and the basic principle of the gospel, free agency, would be ended.

"If pain and sorrow and total punishment immediately followed the doing of evil, no soul would repeat a misdeed. If joy and peace and rewards were instantaneously given the doer of good, there could be no evil--all would do good and not because of the rightness of doing good. There would be no test of strength, no development of character, no growth of powers, no free agency, no Satanic controls.

"Should all prayers be immediately answered according to our selfish desires and our limited understanding, then there would be little or no suffering, sorrow, disappointment, or even death; and if these were not, there would also be an absence of joy, success, resurrection, eternal life, and godhood."

(Improvement Era, Mar 1966, p180 & 210)

Doug

pax vobiscum

Here is the link to the big list of movie reviews:

Childcare Action Project (CAP) Ministry Reports

Using CAP reports, a person can quickly make a judgment call of whether a movie is appropriate for children, before seeing it themselves. One of the keys to the reports is the Findings/Scoring graph, that consists of six thermometers representing Wanton Violence/Crime (W), Impudence/Hate (I), Sexual Immorality (S), Drugs/Alcohol (D), Offense to God (O), and Murder/Suicide (M). This, of course, spells WISDOM. To illustrate, let's look at the CAP report for Meet the Robinsons, beginning with its Findings/Scoring graph:

Below the Findings/Scoring graph is a list of every questionable portrayal found in the movie. For example, for Meet the Robinsons, under the Wanton Violence/Crime category is listed:

theft

anger tantrum

identity fraud

slapstick violence throughout

character on fire

characters being attacked and eaten by a Tyrannosaurus Rex (snatched into its mouth but spit out later)

impalement through chest of robot emulating impalement gore

attack by "zombies"

This list continues point by point throughout each of the letters of the WISDOM graph. In addition to this extraordinary help in judging the merits of a film, each movie is assigned a new rating based upon the CAP scoring method. So, in this case, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA )assigned a rating of G to Meet the Robinsons whereas the CAP model assigned a rating of PG-G. Also, a CAPCon Alert signal is shown for each reviewed movie. This lets parents know at a glance "the relative amount of assaults on morality and decency in a film." Meet the Robinsons received the following CAPCon Alert signal:

The CAP web site states: "We give you OBJECTIVE tools NO ONE ELSE CAN to help YOU make an informed decision for yourself whether a film is fit for your family." I agree with that assessment. The tools really are objective and no one else seems to be supplying this information. Not even the LDS. To see the latest reviews, click this graphic-->

I was planning on publishing this post awhile ago and I may be a bit too late. This ministry is having major problems with funding. Apparently, between 10 and 11 million people have used the service, but only four donors are coughing up money to keep it going and, unfortunately, it is not enough. It would be a shame to see it end. If it does die, I honestly do not think that the LDS can do a better job than this minister can, nor do I think anyone would volunteer to fill in his shoes. He seems to think that God guided him to establish the CAP ministry and I tend to agree.

Visit the web site and check it out. If you are a LDS who frequents the movie theaters and would like to have this ministry and service remain in place, you may want to contribute to keep it afloat.

Complete List of Articles authored by LDS Anarchist

LDS Anarchist
123 Anarchy Lane
Anarchism City, Anarcho-State 12345-6789

July 11, 2008

Mr. Some Guy
Manager, Juror Services Division
Office of the Jury Commissioner
PO Box 123456
Anarchism City, Anarcho-State 12345-6789

Re; JID Number - 012345678

Dear Mr. Guy,

I have recently received a "Juror Summons" in the mail. This is my response to the Summons. In order to know if I am "qualified" to be a juror, I must complete the Juror Affidavit Questionnaire. I notice that I am expected to sign the Affidavit under penalty of perjury. In light of this fact, and to insure that I fully understand the legal terms being used on the Affidavit and the nature of the duty that may fall upon me in this matter, I will need your office to provide me with certain information.

1. In the Juror Affidavit Questionnaire section, question 1, I am being asked if I am a "citizen of the United States". Please provide me with the statutory definition that you are using for the term "citizen of the United States" in question 1. Please include the source of the definition so that it may be seen in proper context.

2. In the Juror Affidavit Questionnaire section, question 4, I am being asked if I am a "resident" of Anarchism County. Please provide me with the statutory definition that you are using for the term "resident" in question 4. Please include the source of the definition so that it may be seen in proper context.

3. In the Juror Affidavit Questionnaire section (step 2) it instructs a person to sign the affidavit under penalty of perjury. Please provide me with your authority to compel me to affix my signature to any document (including the affidavit) under penalty of perjury.

You may mail your response to the address shown at the top of this page. I appreciate your assistance in this matter.

Sincerely,

LDS Anarchist

Thanks goes out to Original Intent for providing me this jury summons response letter which I've now used many times. It works every time and it feels good to assert my rights. Hats off to you guys.

Previous Anarchism/Anarchy article: How the Lord will clean his church: a possible scenario

Complete List of Articles authored by LDS Anarchist

The Book of Mormon has preserved for our comfort and instruction many grand truths pertaining to salvation. In the experiences of Alma and Amulek as ministers among the people we see precious reminders of God’s compassionate guidance and forebearance on behalf of His children. We learn that our sonship and daughtership with God is rooted in the premortal existence, where the purposes of life were unfolded for our future blessing, and callings were imparted to us on the premise of future faithfulness to covenant promises. We come to understand better through these remarkable pages that persecution is not foreign to our mortal journey, and that we can be freed of the agony of guilt and the consequences of sin by bringing ourselves into alignment with the patterns of faith and repentance upon which the plan of redemption is based. We come to appreciate more fully that the Lord’s word will always be fulfilled.

Teachings and Commentaries on the Book of Mormon,            Ch 24, Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen

Here is this week's lesson handout: Book of Mormon Lesson 24 .

Synopsis of the story in the chapters assigned:

• Alma 13. Alma gives a powerful discourse on the priesthood and the doctrine of foreordination.
• Alma 14. Alma, Amulek, and other faithful believers are persecuted for their righteousness. The Lord delivers Alma and Amulek from prison because of their faith in Christ.
• Alma 15. Zeezrom is healed and baptized. Many people in Sidom are baptized.
• Alma 16. The words of Alma are fulfilled as the Lamanites destroy Ammonihah. The Lord prepares people’s hearts to receive the word preached by Alma, Amulek, and others.

A study of this lesson will help us recognize the importance of honoring our foreordained roles, callings, and priesthood responsibilities and to help us understand that following the counsel of prophets helps us enter into the rest of the Lord.

pax vobiscum

]]> http://tasithoughts.wordpress.com/?p=577 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:06:24 +0000 tasithoughts http://tasithoughts.wordpress.com/?p=577 The month of July means summer time with family picnics and lazy days at the beach. Earlier this month we celebrated the birth of our country and this living government we call democracy.

My thoughts also turn to my birthplace, Guam.  On July 21^st,   this United States island territory will celebrate its Liberation Day.  It was the day it was liberated from the Japanese invading forces during WWII when the United States won back it’s captured soil from the enemy.

With this backdrop, my story begins.

Back in the late 1980’s, my young family sat down for Sunday service at the Talisay, Guam Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  My two young daughters fidgeted in the pew while my wife tried to calm the youngest one.

The ceiling fans whipped the cool air that flowed through the chapel that sat up on a hill.  I looked up at the pulpit which was placed in front of a beautiful wall of rock stacked one on top of each other. It looked like it was going to be another beautiful Sunday.

I could hear my stomach growling reminding me I was fasting  ( part of the monthly ritual where church members fast two meals and then give the money that they would have spent for those meals to the Church to help the poor in the congregation).  I wanted to make sure that I don’t forget to get our family donation into the Branch Presidency or I will not hear the end of it from my wife.

On this day of fasting, part of the worship service is given to members of the congregation to come up at will to bear their testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. I must admit if certain of the monthly regulars go up and start talking, I may be fighting just to stay awake.

As I was trying to think of ways of napping while keeping my open eyes,  I saw a dignified figure walking towards the pulpit. I suddenly was wide awake…and surprised.

It was Josefa De Los Santos.

I have never seen her come up to bear her testimony.   She was a very sweet older woman we knew in the congregation. My wife taught her daughters Sunday School.

She started to speak into the microphone, her soft voice amplified and clear. It was the kind of voice that made you want to listen. The voice of a mother.

Her eyes seem to look into a scene far away from inside the chapel.  She spoke about the occupation of Guam during the war  by the Japanese. Her family lived in the village of Agana.  She was a young girl and she spoke about the fear her family lived under during that oppressive regime.

There was always hunger. Her father and older brothers did what they could to get food from meager, subsistence gardens they grew in the jungles and the occasional chicken or two. However, they were often recruited by the Japanese for forced labor to build airfields and roads.

One day,   while she was at home, Japanese soldiers broke into her home and brought her sisters and her to join her mom  in what was the village center. Soldiers surrounded her dad and a brother. 

They were beating them.  They were suspected of hiding U.S Navy man George Tweed.  He had been suspected of hiding in the jungles of Guam radioing messages to the U.S. Armed Forces.

They refused to answer any of their questions. Her family was loyal to the United States. Whether or not they knew his whereabouts was not the point, her father and brother were not going to compromise the American soldier in any way.

They were shot to death.    Josefa, her sisters and mother were made to witness it.  Typically, they would have been killed also.  They were spared death but not the horrible grief.

Shortly another brother was taken and on a nearby beach was buried alive when he refused to answer their questions.

After speaking about such a harrowing story, Josefa looked at each member of the congregation with moistened eyes and said,  “Brothers and Sisters,   the gospel of Jesus Christ has taught me the miracle of forgiveness. I forgave those men long time ago who killed my father and brothers. Our family has never regretted their sacrifice and I honor their memory.”

She left the pulpit and then walked slowly back to her pew.  No one moved for some time.  I felt we were caught in a sacred silence. I just heard the most moving sermon of my life.

July brings back memories of Josefa and her family’s sacrifice for the American soldier. More importantly, it reminds me of the power of faith and ultimately forgiveness in helping us face life’s greatest trials.

(Note:  George Tweed, U.S. Navy Radio Man, was rescued from Guam after hiding 31 months during the Japanese occupation. Many local native Chamorro people risked their lives and even sacrificed them for his safe return)

There didn't seem to be a whole lot of interest in The Noachian Flood, Part One: The role of plasma, so I held off on writing and releasing Part Two. In fact, so much did I hold off, that I totally forgot about Part One and the promised Part Two, until I started recently to go through all the old posts, re-assigning tags, linking articles, etc. It was then that I saw, and re-read, Part One and realized that I had yet to publish Part Two. As Anthony E. Larson has now joined this blog and recently published a slew of articles on plasma theology, it may be the ideal time to return to this topic. So, without further adieu, here is Part Two. (Hey! That rhymes!)

Death of a Comet (not of a Salesman)...

A few years back, a comet called Schwassman-Wachmann 3 disintegrated as it made its routine appearance. This particular comet, also known as Comet 73P, comes by every 5.4 years and normally does not put on spectacular displays. It was discovered in 1930 and has been tracked ever since, so astronomers are fairly familiar with its normal behavior. However, when it appeared in 1995, it was so bright that astronomers thought it was a new comet. They soon realized their mistake and kept an eye on the newly brightened object, discovering in 1996 that it had broken into at least 3 pieces, the beginning of the disintegration process. In its next pass, in the year 2000, it had brightened even more and now there were more cometary fragments. Finally, in the latest pass, in the year 2006, dozens of fragments were discovered, due to Hubble's imaging capabilities.

... and of a Theory

Current cometary theory posits that comets are gigantic chunks of dirty ice or icy dirt and that the brilliant displays they put on are nothing more than ice sublimating from the Sun's rays.

Unbeknown to most of the population, with the advent of modern, observational, astronomic and analytic technology and its focused use on comets, as new comets have entered our solar system and have been observed and analyzed, current cometary theory has also disintegrated, much like Comet Schwassman-Wachmann 3 has. A whole lot of contradictory information has come out which invalidates these mainstream cometary theories. However, the mainstream astronomers continue with their dogma, despite the evidence to the contrary, looking for a comet, any comet, that will prove their theories correct. As usual, none of our high school or college texts are ever updated with the new contradictory information and another generation of children and young adults are taught the already invalidated theories.

What comets really are

One particular non-mainstream theory is that comets are charged (rocky) bodies moving in the weak electric field of space which can and does results in plasma discharges and plasma structures, making the coma, tail, hydrogen bubble, jets, etc. This theory is both highly accurate in its predictions and also validated more and more with each new comet that enters our system and is analyzed by our technology.

The following PDF document explains the electric comet model and how it measures up compared to all the new cometary information that is coming in, as well as compared to the standard, mainstream model.

The Electric Comet

Comet Schwassman-Wachmann 3's "water" production was really OH production

Comet 73P's disintegration allowed astronomers to finally get a peek at the inside of a comet and of course they expected to see lots of ice and water, which, of course, they didn't.

At the heart of comet theory is the astronomers' unsubstantiated claim that cometary displays are largely a result of water evaporation. In contrast, electrical theorist Wal Thornhill and his colleagues have repeatedly predicted that the required water levels in the nucleus will not be found. (See summaries here and here; facts already in hand virtually preclude abundant ices on the nuclei of most comets.)

But when astronomers view the comas of comets spectroscopically, their own preconceptions deceive them. They are not seeing water. (If it were there, it would not be visible.) What they actually see is the hydroxyl radical (OH), which they assume to be a residue of water (H2O) as it is broken down by the ultraviolet light of the Sun. This assumption is not only unwarranted, it requires a speed of "processing" by solar radiation beyond anything that can be demonstrated experimentally.

The explanation for the OH in cometary comas will be found in the energetic exchange between the electrically charged comet and the oppositely charged solar wind. The point was stated in an earlier Picture of the Day: "In the electric model, negative oxygen ions will be accelerated away from the comet in energetic jets, then combine preferentially with protons from the solar wind to form the observed OH radical and the neutral hydrogen gathered around the coma in vast concentric bubbles. The reactions simply confirm the energetic charge exchange between the nucleus and Sun."

The fragmentation of comet nuclei provides a telling opportunity to see if the ices that standard theory expects are actually there. But the time to look is in the early stages of an explosive outburst, before charge exchange with the Sun deceives astronomers. The electric model would anticipate that, with each outburst, observatories may record a decline in the relative abundance of water, before they report an increase in water (their interpretation, due to the presence of OH). As recent missions to comets have shown, water is consistently missing from the nuclei of comets but supposedly present in the comas. If the OH is, in fact, being manufactured through reactions with the solar wind, the contradictions are resolved.

(Taken from Comet Schwassman-Wachmann 3 Disintegrates (2).)

Another quote along the same line of reasoning:

When astronomers view the comas of comets spectroscopically, what they actually see is the hydroxyl radical (OH), which they assume to be a residue of water (H2O) broken down by the ultraviolet light of the Sun (photolysis). This assumption is not only unwarranted, it requires a speed of “processing” by solar radiation beyond anything that can be demonstrated experimentally.

The mysteries find direct answers electrically—in the transaction between a negatively charged comet nucleus and the Sun. In the electric model, negative oxygen ions are accelerated away from the comet in energetic jets, then combine preferentially with protons from the solar wind to form the observed OH radical and the neutral hydrogen gathered around the coma in vast concentric bubbles. These abundances simply confirm the energetic charge exchange between the nucleus and the Sun.

The electric model thus resolves two problems for the standard theory:

1. Cometologists have never verified that the assumed photolysis is feasible on the super-efficient scale their “explanation” requires.
2. Neutral hydrogen is far too plentiful in the coma to be the “leftover” of the hypothesized conversion of water into OH. But if the negatively charged nucleus provides the electrons in a charge exchange with the solar wind, the dilemma is resolved and the vast hydrogen envelope is a predictable effect.

(Taken from The Electric Comet as quoted in Evidence Confirms Electric Comet Model.)

Some facts about OH (the hydroxyl radical)

Here on Earth (or rather above us, in the troposphere) OH production is largely a result of photolysis of ozone, which is the mechanism that astronomers assumed was taking place on comets. However, if comets can electrically generate OH, Earth can do the same.

Currently, tropospheric hydroxyl radical concentration is pretty low. The electric state of the planet (and all the planets we observe in the solar system) is also pretty low, making Earth production of OH chiefly by photolysis. But if the electrical state of the Earth were amplified, OH production through electrical means could vastly and quickly increase the hydroxyl radical concentration, just as it happens on comets.

OH is highly reactive, forming water and some other radical, such as an alkyl radical, a peroxy radical, etc. As a result of these reactions, hydroxyl radicals are short-lived.

The Stacked Planets Scenario

Assuming that the planets were once stacked (and will be again) and that there was a pillar or plasma tube connecting the planets at their poles, the removal of the planets to their current positions would have caused electrical disruptions up and down the "totem pole" of planets. This augmented electrical state could have electrically manufactured, like comets, a vast quantity of highly reactive OH in the atmosphere, which, upon reaction with other compounds, would have produced a torrent of water and caustic substances that would have rained down hot, "burning" water upon the inhabitants of the Earth.

In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. (Genesis 7: 11)

The plasma columns connecting the various planets could be thought of as the world axis, a great mountain, trees of life, or as fountains of living water. As there would be more than one "fountain of living water" (plasma column) because there were more than two planets connected, the break up of these fountains of the great deep means that the planets were scattered from their stacked positions, and, as explained above, massive OH production possibly would ensue, causing the "windows of heaven" to open.

There's more coming in part three...

Next Plasma Theology article: The plasma aspects of the First Vision and Moroni's visit

Previous Plasma Theology article: The Noachian Flood, Part One: The Role of Plasma

Complete List of Articles authored by LDS Anarchist

[audio http://www.archive.org/download/OnReligion/religion_64kb.mp3]
Download the mp3

From chapter 4 of his book "I am America and so can you."

A few pull quotes:

• "If you want to go first class on Christ-Track, there is only one way to ride... Roman Catholicism!"
• "Jesus founded only one church folks and it wasn't Unitarism."
• "Catholics have many advantages over other Christians. One is marble. For the buck I put into the collection plate, I want some production value. That means a church, not some community center that doubles as basketball court. Also Catholics have saints-- more than 10,000 of them. They're like God's customer service reps, and each of them has a speciality."
• "Protestantism, this is a variant form of Christianity, or 'heresy'"
• "Protestants don't make me angry as much as disappointed. Unlike the world's crazy made up religions, they're so close to getting it right. They're a single Pope away from reaching their full potential."
• "You've had your 490 year protest, lets move on."
• "Why don't Episcopalians just come out and say it - their Anglicans! A bunch of Tory Loyalist Brito-philes... waiting for the day America let's her guard down and they can reinstate Henry VIII! Let's keep an eye on these people"
• "Methodist - What, the Church of England wasn't heretical enough for you?"
• "I'll give the Mormons this, they know which way the wind blows when America decided polygamy wasn't the way to, the Mormons changed their ways and banned it! They had similar changes in policy when public opinion turned against the tradition of massacring pioneers and believing all black people are evil."
• "Pretty much whenever the general populous decides that Mormons are a sinful, crazy cult, their leader receives a message straight from God that makes everything okay."

David Archuleta has been captured in both song and in interviews during the first few idol concerts this summer.  This is the beginnings of  a Superstar!  Enjoy!

Glendale , Az:

Fresno, CA

Interview in Arizona

Another Interview

Handstands with David Cook

Why not add some nostalgia:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rJAo3Em_xqs&feature=related

The one act dramedy musical play that chronicles the coming out story of Mormon returned missionary, ex-temple married, father, former male escort, former drug user, and excommunicated LDS Church member Steven Fales will now grace the stage in London. 

Critically acclaimed, the play was awarded the  Overall Excellence Award at the 2004 New York International Fringe Festival. It received the 2008 Oscar Wilde Award Nomination for Outstanding New Writing in the Theatre at the Dublin International Gay Theatre Festival and a New York Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance.

Fales is quoted on  http://www.affirmation.org/:

Fales says ‘I wrote the play so that my children would some day be able to understand their gay father” and he adds “I kept thinking that if I were to die, there wasn’t anyone I could fully trust to tell my kids who their ‘wicked’ gay dad really was and how much I loved them.”
(Fales’ former mother-in-law is celebrated Mormon poet Carol Lynn Pearson whose autobiography Good-bye, I Love You (Random House 1986), poignantly recounts her relationship with her gay ex-husband who died of AIDS in her home. Steven Fales married their oldest daughter, Emily and together they have two children whom they raise in Salt Lake City, Utah.)

He also wrote a book with the same title that was a recent finalist for a Lambda Literary Award.

I saw his play here in San Francisco last year and found it to be a very enjoyable, touching experience. Fales is able to deliver his coming out story with a very human truthfulness with all his foibles laid bare but with a sincerity at its core.  His love for his children comes through, as he struggles as a man who comes to terms with his sexual identity in the middle of a marriage,  in a conservative religious environment. It is a convulsive, messy coming out process for him.  Thank goodness, he survived it to write and perform this play.

Confessions of a Mormon Boy is a MUST SEE for anyone who is interested about how someone overcomes the impossible....and who lives to sing and laugh about it.

Information on the London Performance Run

CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY
Written and performed by Steven Fales
28 July to 30 August
Wednesday to Saturday at 9.30pm Sunday & Monday at 7.30pm (90 minutes)
Post-show discussions on Mondays 4, 11, 18 and 25 August.
Tickets £15 concessions £12 Ticket Sales 0870 033 2733
New End Theatre, 27 New End, Hampstead London NW3 1JD
www.newendtheatre.co.uk
5 minutes from Hampstead tube     fully air-conditioned

http://www.mormonboy.com/

The Lord’s manner of teaching and affirming, especially when it involves a covenant, has always provided more than one testimony. His admonition has always been that ‘in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.’ (2 Corinthians 13:1)

Indeed, when the Book of Mormon was to come forth through the inspired hand of the Prophet Joseph Smith, it was prophesied that ‘three shall . . . be shown [the plates] by the power of God. . . . And in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established; and the testimony of three, and this work, in the which shall be shown forth the power of God . . . also his word, of which the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost bear record—and all this shall stand as a testimony against the world at the last day’ (Ether 5:3–4).”

Here is this week's lesson handout: Book of Mormon Lesson 23 .

Synopsis of the story in the chapters assigned:

• Alma 8–9. After preaching in Melek, Alma calls the people of Ammonihah to repentance, but they reject him. He leaves but is commanded by an angel to return. Alma is received by Amulek, and both are commanded to preach in Ammonihah.

• Alma 10. Amulek preaches to the people of Ammonihah and describes his conversion. The people are astonished that there is another witness to Alma’s teachings. Amulek contends with unrighteous lawyers and judges.

• Alma 11. Amulek contends with Zeezrom and testifies of the coming of Christ, the judgment of the wicked, and the plan of redemption.
  • [Updated 5 July 2008] Lesson Aid: Alma 11 - Nephite Coinage .

• Alma 12. Alma further explains Amulek’s words, warning against hard-heartedness and wickedness and testifying of the Fall and the plan of redemption.

A study of this lesson will increase our understanding of the plan of redemption and the power of having more than one witness to testify of gospel truths.

pax vobiscum

After Gideon, Korihor is sent to Zarahemla:
Alma 30:29 Now when the high priest and the chief judge saw the hardness of his heart, yea, when they saw that he would revile even against God, they would not make any reply to his words; but they caused that he should be bound; and they delivered him up into the hands of the officers, and sent him to the land of Zarahemla, that he might be brought before Alma, and the chief judge who was governor over all the land.

All according to the law, it seems, right? Except some critics cry foul: what is Alma doing there?! See, it's the priests and the Church meddling in civic affairs! And he's the one--not the judge--that's even questioning and arguing with Korihor! Ok, everyone, remember: Alma is the defendant in this case--the chief high priest under whom all priests that Korihor has been speaking against operate. Not only is it his right to be there to defend his side and answer the charges, it might even be required for him to be there. Also, in at least one country's court where I have been before, the defendant actually has the right to interview/ question the accuser in the presence of the judge without a lot of dilly-dally lawyer and judge stuff--which is very possibly what happens next.

Alma 30:30 And it came to pass that when he was brought before Alma and the chief judge, he did go on in the same manner as he did in the land of Gideon; yea, he went on to blaspheme.
Alma 30:31 And he did rise up in great swelling words before Alma, and did revile against the priests and teachers, accusing them of leading away the people after the silly traditions of their fathers, for the sake of glutting on the labors of the people.

Once more, he makes accusations. But Alma proves the charge of glutting on the labors of the people to be false, and therefore a lie:
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.
Alma 30:33 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.
Alma 30:34 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?
Alma 30:35 Then why sayest thou that we preach unto this people to get gain, when thou, of thyself, knowest that we receive no gain?

Alma continues:
Alma 30:35 And now, believest thou that we deceive this people, that causes such joy in their hearts?
Alma 30:36 And Korihor answered him, Yea.

At this point, Alma understands clearly--if he hadn't already--that Korihor is a wicked liar, not just an innocent atheist or unbeliever, and I believe that Alma has a few revelations about Korihor, which lead to the next part:
Alma 30:37 And then Alma said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?
Alma 30:38 And he answered, Nay.
Alma 30:39 Now Alma said unto him: Will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come.
Alma 30:40 And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only.
Alma 30:41 But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou that these things are true?
Alma 30:42 Behold, I know that thou believest, but thou art possessed with a lying spirit, and ye have put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in you; but the devil has power over you, and he doth carry you about, working devices that he may destroy the children of God.
Alma 30:43 And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.
Alma 30:44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

Alma goes to the other part of Korihor's lying--that the priests don't and can't know, yet Korihor can. It doesn't seem to be about Korihor not being able to believe the religion he wants to; it's about his imposing on others, that they can't know, and therefore they are liars by saying they can; yet he's not a liar by saying he can know that they don't know, or that there *won't* be a Christ, etc.

Most critics completely miss the point of Alma's arguments here. Alma could have presented strong evidence of God that the Nephites and Anti-Nephi-Lehies/ people of Ammon were familiar with (I did that in the "Korihor in Jershon and Gideon" section). I believe the evidence would have held in court, and Alma could have won by doing so. But he doesn't.

Korihor had no evidence or proof to back up his accusations about the priests, and Alma showed it. Korihor doesn't have any evidence or proof to back up his other accusations, either, and Alma knows it; he will create a parallel to let that point sink in.

Alma just shows that the other side of the coin of not seeing God in anything, which is seeing God in so many things; and that the other side of not having proof that God exists, is not having proof that God doesn't exist. Korihor preaches that the doctrine of Christ is foolish traditions; that's not the first time that accusation had been made (see 2 Nephi 25:26, Jacob 7:7, 9, 11-13; Alma 8:11, Alma 28:7-8). Alma says, you say they are foolish; but I say, where is evidence or proof that yours aren't? As Elder McConkie says: "All false doctrines are fables. That is, they are stories which have been imagined, fabricated, and invented as opposed to the gospel which is real and true. Apostasy consists in turning from true doctrine to fables" (McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3: 114).

Alma's arguments have nothing to do with proving God's existence and aren't meant to be taken that way! In fact, Alma has no intention whatsoever of proving God, to anyone--especially to Korihor. Alma is just showing: if neither side has proof that anyone and everyone can see, how then can Korihor claim knowing there is no God? And how then can Korihor claim to be certain that others can't know there is a God? Alma just proves that Korihor's arguments are baseless; no proof or even evidence is needed. Korihor's universe is one of anarchy and disorder, where the strongest wins and anyone can do anything they want; yet the universe apparent--in the sky and everywhere, that anyone and everyone can see--is one of order and function. So, in essence, Alma shows that, based on what can be known through the senses and the physical world around--nature--his argument is just as strong--well, even stronger--than Korihor's argument of survival of the fittest, found in nature.

There is no need for Alma to "show a sign" or "convince" in court; it is good enough to show that Korihor's charges are false and he is guilty of them. Alma knows that when a wicked, adulterous, and lying [person] seeks a sign and gets one, it remains as having no significant meaning or a cause to repent (see Helaman 9, 10; Helaman 16:6, 23; 3 Nephi 2:1-3, 3 Nephi 1:4, 5). So why bother? The faithful receive signs to their favor, and the faithless receive signs to their condemnation (Alma said that in Alma 29)--and we're going to see this in a minute. Alma has also let Korihor off somewhat easily--look, you want proof for God, I'm not going to give you any; you don't have proof God doesn't exist; you lied; it's over with your preaching. Korihor knows that even without Alma presenting evidence, he has lost. However, I imagine that Korihor doesn't like how it just ended, and is angry. So now he backpedals on some previous statements of belief, and changes the argument from one of belief, to one of proof. Very importantly note here that Korihor, not Alma, changes it from a legal questioning/ trial about belief, to a religious confrontation based on proof.

Alma 30:45 And yet do ye go about, leading away the hearts of this people, testifying unto them there is no God? And yet will ye deny against all these witnesses? And he said: Yea, I will deny, except ye shall show me a sign.
Alma 30:46 And now it came to pass that Alma said unto him: Behold, I am grieved because of the hardness of your heart, yea, that ye will still resist the spirit of the truth, that thy soul may be destroyed.
Alma 30:47 But behold, it is better that thy soul should be lost than that thou shouldst be the means of bringing many souls down to destruction, by thy lying and by thy flattering words; therefore if thou shalt deny again, behold God shall smite thee, that thou shalt become dumb, that thou shalt never open thy mouth any more, that thou shalt not deceive this people any more.
Alma 30:48 Now Korihor said unto him: I do not deny the existence of a God, but I do not believe that there is a God; and I say also, that ye do not know that there is a God; and except ye show me a sign, I will not believe.
Alma 30:49 Now Alma said unto him: This will I give unto thee for a sign, that thou shalt be struck dumb, according to my words; and I say, that in the name of God, ye shall be struck dumb, that ye shall no more have utterance.

Alma gives Korihor four chances to admit he is lying. Korihor doesn't take them.

Alma 30:50 Now when Alma had said these words, Korihor was struck dumb, that he could not
have utterance, according to the words of Alma.
Alma 30:51 And now when the chief judge saw this, he put forth his hand and wrote unto Korihor, saying: Art thou convinced of the power of God? In whom did ye desire that Alma should show forth his sign? Would ye that he should afflict others, to show unto thee a sign? Behold, he has showed unto you a sign; and now will ye dispute more?
Alma 30:52 And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: I know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak; and I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a God.

Well, what do you know!! Korihor really *was* a liar from the start.

Alma 30:53 But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me.
Alma 30:54 Now when he had said this, he besought that Alma should pray unto God, that the curse might be taken from him.
Alma 30:55 But Alma said unto him: If this curse should be taken from thee thou wouldst again lead away the hearts of this people; therefore, it shall be unto thee even as the Lord will.
Alma 30:56 And it came to pass that the curse was not taken off of Korihor...

Here's where the critics cry and whine: "I'm an atheist, but I'm not a liar! Really!" First of all, Korihor is not an atheist, and he never was. Remember, he just said that. He preached atheism, but he was never an atheist. Are there atheists? If someone says they are atheist, I believe them--after conversation. I say that not through bigotry but because of experience. I've met many proclaimed atheists; most were scared agnostics who had been hurt before by religion. That's ok. That's cool. I can understand, just like I understand people who don't want to get married because they were hurt in past relationships. And that doesn't mean there really aren't atheists, and if someone doesn't want to believe, or won't allow themselves to believe, well, that's where they are, too. "See, all Mormons believe all unbelievers and atheists are liars!" Does this story show that? Does this story say that all atheists are liars? No. Or all unbelievers? No. Does it mean that liars might have no problems blaspheming? Yes. Does it mean that someone *might* be lying when they say things to build themselves up, even if it means destroying God's work in the process? Sure. And notwithstanding the plethora of ex-believers who say they aren't liars, many ex-believers I've met have admitted that they really did know when they said they didn't know and said all sorts of lies. Not only that, but baptsimal requirements mean that if someone is baptized, they have had a spiritual witness of the truth, a testimony from the Spirit. So either they didn't have one and lied during the baptism; the interview wasn't conducted properly or the interviewer allowed them to be baptized unproperly; or they had one and now say they don't and didn't (lying), to some extent. (What does often happen to unrepentant sinners is that one forgets or avoids (consciously or subconsciously) knowledge and the Spirit/ witnesses received.) Does that mean all ex-believers are liars like Korihor? Of course not. In fact, no true atheists and very few ex-believers could be like Korihor--Korihor had a testimony that God existed, he was personally visited by Satan, he listened to Satan and his doctrine and chose to preach and follow it, and he chose to follow Satan to the end, due to continual choosing of wrong rewards over right.

So Korihor admits he knows his words never were true at the start--he only started to believe them later (this also happens to many ex-believers); and notwithstanding all his excuses, he does recognize that he brought the curse on himself (something most ex-believers don't do, which is why the story of Korihor gets many of them really riled up). This is also evident when Korihor doesn't ask Alma to take the curse from him, but he asks Alma to ask God to take the curse from him.

Does Korihor repent? No! Contrary to what many critics say, he doesn't repent. Alma makes it clear he hasn't, and won't--that's why the curse isn't taken off him. Korihor just wants his voice back so he can keep going. Making an admission of being wrong and asking for a blessing is not repentance. I've seen it myself many times--people asking for mercy from others just so they can continue to do their own evil things. (You know, like "Get off of me and let me up--so I can try to hit you again...") If Korihor had really repented, maybe instead of asking for his voice back, he might have said he's done with preacing and withstanding the truth; he might have asked for repentance and baptism; he might have asked about restitution. He could have done many of the things that other repentant people in the Book of Mormon do (like Alma himself and the sons of Mosiah, Amulek, Zeezrom, etc.). Korihor does nothing of those things--look, I just confessed, so you should give me my voice back. And what was his confession? Mostly one excuse after another, blaming others for his problems.

In the end, it says that Korihor is cast out, and went about from house to house begging for his food (Alma 30:56). Is that "cast out" from the presence of the chief judge, or from the Nephites? Either way, his judgment seems to be according to the law. It says, in Alma 11:2: Now if a man owed another, and he would not pay that which he did owe, he was complained of to the judge; and the judge executed authority, and sent forth officers that the man should be brought before him; and he judged the man according to the law and the evidences which were brought against him, and thus the man was compelled to pay that which he owed, or be stripped, or *be cast out from among the people* as a thief and a robber.

One of the penalties for owing another is being "cast out from among the people". What is the penalty for accusing others of being complete liars to control, exert dominion over, and monetarily gain from others, and all his other crimes? I don't know, but casting out doesn't seem a far stretch...

In the Book of Mormon, when some are questioned--even by judges--they retain what seems to be their right to remain silent or to answer as they please. Korihor clearly gave away this right, in order to be able to speak against the church leaders. So, to say that he was forced to respond, is too strong.

Some might say that the charges were still too weak to arrest and question Korihor in the first place. Maybe, just maybe, it *was* somewhat uncertain about whether his crimes were enough to be punished for, at first. Ask most police officers if most arrests don't start out with a small matter of a few questions and maybe something that sounds fishy, or a small "mistake"/ crime. After arrest and more questioning, or at the trial, if the defendant chooses to speak, more comes out... busted! But from what Korihor was telling the judge of Gideon, it appears he just might have been saying more than what was just recorded. Still, even if that came out only later to the judge of Gideon, that would be more than enough to send him to the chief judge and the main defe