What Christ Fought For Part Two

Post Date: 17th Jan, 2008 - 6:56pm / Post ID: #

Alma43

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What Christ Fought For Part Two

What Christ fought for, continues to fight for, and asks us to fight for

PART TWO

SECRET COMBINATIONS

What have the prophets said is the biggest threat to our freedoms? What will be the cause of such a threat to them? President Benson said,

QUOTE

"Concerning the United States, the Lord revealed to his prophets that its greatest threat would be a vast, worldwide "secret combination" which would not only threaten the United States but also seek to "overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations."

- Conference Report, October 1961

Regarding this, President Benson said:

QUOTE

"Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon was the "keystone of our religion" and the "most correct" book on earth. (DHC, vol. 6, p. 56.) This most correct book on earth states that the downfall of two great American civilizations came as a result of secret conspiracies whose desire was to overthrow the freedom of the people.

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 as the greatest threat the Godless conspiracy. There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon-it is a conspiracy fact. And along this line I would highly recommend to you a new book entitled, "None Dare Call It Conspiracy"."

(Gen. Conf. April, 1972)

Then in 1988 he said,

QUOTE

A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world. (See Ether 8:18-25.)

In General Conference of October 1995, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said of conspiring men in the Last Days: "The Lord has warned repeatedly against the evils and designs of conspiring men in our day who would enslave us"¦"

The scriptures describe this latter-day conspiracy that seeks to destroy the freedoms of all lands, nations and countries Ether 8:23-25 teaches us that this Latter-Day conspiracy seeks to:
"¢ Get Power (Vs. 23)
"¢ Get Gain or Money (Vs. 23)
"¢ Will Murder (vs. 24)
"¢ Overthrow Freedom in ALL Lands, Nations, and Countries (vs. 25)
"¢ Bring Destruction to All People (vs. 25)

As was shown before, the Lords prophets have admonished us to "do all we can to preserve freedom". Moroni pleads for the same here as well. He says that when we "awake to our awful situation," that we must
"¢ Repent of Our Sins (vs. 23)
"¢ Not Allow This Conspiracy to Get Above You (vs. 23)
For if we do, it will prove our destruction just as it did the Jaredites and the Nephites.

LDS NEUTRALIZERS

Satan tries to trick Latter-day Saints, especially the Priesthood, not to "get involved" in the freedom battle.

Here are some excuses that President Benson lists that some members of the Church give for not continuing to fight for the free agency of man.

Ezra Taft Benson Conference Report, April 1965:

QUOTE

First: "We really haven't received much instruction about freedom," the devil says.

This is a lie, for we have been warned time and again"¦ Last conference I spoke of a book embodying much of the prophets' warnings on freedom from Joseph Smith to David O. McKay which I commend to you. It is entitled Prophets, Principles, and National Survival.

Second: "You're too involved in other church work," says the devil.

But freedom is a weighty matter of the law; the lesser principles of the gospel you should keep but not leave this one undone. We may have to balance and manage our time better.

Third: "You want to be loved by everyone," says the devil, "and this freedom battle is so controversial you might be accused of engaging in politics."

Those who support only the popular principles of the gospel have their reward.

Fourth: "Wait until it becomes popular to do," says the devil, "or, at least until everybody in the Church agrees on what should be done."

But this fight for freedom might never become popular in our day. And if you wait until everybody agrees in this Church, you will be waiting through the second coming of the Lord. Would you have hesitated to follow the inspired counsel of the Prophet Joseph Smith simply because some weak men disagreed with him?

Fifth: "It might hurt your business or your family," says the devil, "and besides why not let the gentiles save the country? They aren't as busy as you are."

Well, there were many businessmen who went along with Hitler because it supposedly helped their business. They lost everything. Many of us are here today because our forefathers loved truth enough that they fought at Valley Forge or crossed the plains in spite of the price it cost them or their families. We had better take our small pain now than our greater loss later.

Sixth: "Don't worry," says the devil "the Lord will protect you, and besides the world is so corrupt and heading toward destruction at such a pace that you can't stop it, so why try."

Well to begin with, the Lord will not protect us unless we do our part. But many of the prophecies referring to America's preservation are conditional. That is, if we do our duty we can be preserved, and if not then we shall be destroyed. This means that a good deal of the responsibility lies with the priesthood of this Church as to what happens to America and as to how much tragedy can be avoided if we do act now.

(Seventh) "Don't do anything in the fight for freedom until the Church sets up its own specific program to save the Constitution."

This brings us right back to the scripture I opened with today-to those slothful servants who will not do anything until they are "compelled in all things." Maybe the Lord will never set up a specific church program for the purpose of saving the Constitution.
The Prophet Joseph Smith declared it will be the elders of Israel who will step forward to help save the Constitution, not the Church.

ETB Gen Oct 1966
Eighth: Just live the gospel; there's no need to get involved in trying to save freedom and the Constitution "¦.

Of course, this is dangerous reasoning, because in reality you cannot fully live the gospel without working to save freedom and the Constitution"¦

ETB BYU Oct 1966
We would not say to someone, "There is no need to be baptized-all you need to do is live the gospel." That would be ridiculous because baptism is a part of the gospel.
How would you have reacted if during the war in Heaven someone said to you "Look, just do what's right, there is no need to get involved in the fight for free agency." Now it is obvious what the devil is trying to do, but it is sad to see many of us fall for his destructive line"

HOW TO PRESERVE FREEDOM

Now we understand that these are not good excuses and we need to be actively engaged. What are we to do?

In General Conference, October 1987, President Benson, as President of the Church laid out these steps:

QUOTE

First and foremost, we must be righteous
Second, we must learn the principles of the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers
Third, we must become involved in civic affairs to see that we are properly represented...
Fourth, we must make our influence felt by our vote, our letters, our teaching, and our advice.

Then in the General Conference of October 2003, Elder M Russell Ballard said:

QUOTE

We need to remember Edmund Burke statement: ËœThe only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. We need to raise our voices with other concerned citizens throughout the world in opposition to current trends.

Elder Christensen, in the February 2006 Ensign, emphasized this as well when he said,
What a sacred privilege and responsibility is ours to participate with other like-minded people to ensure that basic freedoms are preserved wherever we reside.

So in addition to certain things we can do on our own, we have a "Responsibility" to join and work with others to reverse current trends and preserve freedom. Have leaders in the Church recommended others that we could join with? Elder Christensen in his article suggests those that are "like-minded". Groups of people that understand the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers. Groups of people that understand that the greatest threat to freedom and the Constitution is a Conspiracy that seeks to destroy the freedom of all lands and countries.

RECAP

War in Heaven about freedom

We have a Responsibility to preserve that freedom

The Constitution was given to us from our Heavenly Father to help us in that preservation

The Constitution is not political; it is the word of the Lord

There is nothing that members should be more unified in defending

It is under attack by a Secret Combination that seeks to over through the freedom of all lands and nations

There is no excuse for us not to be involved in that battle

To be effective, we have an obligation to join with others to preserve freedom

QUOTE

The War in Heaven Is Raging on Earth Today. Brethren, if we had done our homework and were faithful, we could step forward at this time and help save this country. The fact that most of us are unprepared to do it is an indictment we will have to bear. The longer we wait, the heavier the chains, the deeper the blood, the more the persecution and the less we can carry out our God-given mandate and world-wide mission. The war in heaven is raging on earth today. Are you being neutralized in the battle?

(Ezra Taft Benson, General Conference, April 5, 1965)

In the June 2007 Ensign (this year) President Hinckley said,

QUOTE

"That war, so bitter, so intense, has never ceased. It is the war between truth and error, between agency and compulsion, between the followers of Christ and those who have denied Him. His enemies have used every stratagem in that conflict. They"ve indulged in lying and deceit. They"ve employed money and wealth. They"ve tricked the minds of men. They"ve murdered and destroyed and engaged in every kind of evil practice to thwart the work of Christ."

In conclusion, in the end, the Lord wins! President Benson testified,

QUOTE

The Lord has declared that before the second coming of Christ it will be necessary to "destroy the secret works of darkness" in order to preserve the land of Zion" the Americas. (2 Nephi 10:11-16.)

- General Conference, Sept. 1961

Those that seek to destroy freedom in America must be defeated. They will be defeated. The only question that remains is, which side of the fence will we be on?

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What Christ Fought For Part Two

What Christ Fought Part Two - Mormon Doctrine Studies - Posted: 17th Jan, 2008 - 6:56pm

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What Christ Fought For Part Two