Proper Government, Principle 1, An In-Depth Analysis
Principle One: ““NO PEOPLE CAN MAINTAIN FREEDOM UNLESS THEIR POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS ARE FOUNDED UPON FAITH IN GOD AND BELIEF IN THE EXISTENCE OF MORAL LAW.”” "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." You've read this quote from John Adams before, but have you read the complete letter from which it is taken? While the quote above does stand on its own quite well, the complete text gives further insight into what this Founding Father wanted us to know, and leads us into a discussion of this principle: Original text: “From John Adams to Massachusetts Militia, 11 October 1798 To the Officers of the first Brigade of the third Division of the Militia of Massachusetts Quincy October 11. 1798 Gentlemen I have received from Major General Hull and Brigadier General Walker your unanimous Address from Lexington, animated with a martial Spirit and expressed with a military Dignity, becoming your Characters and the memorable Plains, in which it was adopted. While our Country remains untainted with the Principles and manners, which are now producing desolation in so many Parts of the World: while the [sic; she?] continues Sincere and incapable of insidious and impious Policy: We shall have the Strongest Reason to rejoice in the local destination assigned Us by Providence. But should the People of America, once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another and towards foreign nations, which assumes the Language of Justice and moderation while it is practicing Iniquity and Extravagance; and displays in the most captivating manner the charming Pictures of Candour[,] frankness & sincerity while it is rioting in rapine and Insolence: this Country will be the most miserable Habitation in the World. Because We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by morality and Religion. Avarice, Ambition[,] Revenge or Galantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other[.] An Address so unanimous and firm from the officers commanding two thousand Eight hundred Men, consisting of such substantial Citizens as are able and willing at their own Expence, compleatly to arm, And cloath themselves in handsome Uniforms does honor to that Division of the Militia which has done so much honor to their Country. Oaths, in this Country, are as yet universally considered as Sacred Obligations. That which you have taken and so solemnly repeated on that venerable Spot is an ample Pledge of your sincerity, and devotion to your Country and its Government. John Adams (Source: archive.gov)” In order to better understand the language of Adams' day, let's define some terms. Some of them may seem familiar, but the meanings have changed over time, so we will consult Webster's 1828 Dictionary. Ambition “A desire of preferment, or of honor; a desire of excellence or superiority” [NOTE: Webster says this word is "used in a good sense", but it is obvious from context that this was not Adams' intention. Rather, he appears to have meant ambition similar to that of the Pharisees, who "love[d] the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues" (Matthew 23:6).] Avarice “An inordinate desire of gaining and possessing wealth; covetousness; greediness or insatiable desire of gain.” Candor “Openness of heart; frankness; ingenuousness of mind; a disposition to treat subjects with fairness; freedom from tricks or disguise; sincerity.” Desolation “destruction; ruin; waste” Extravagance “Excess of affection, passion or appetite… Excess in expenditures of property; the expending of money without necessity, or beyond what is reasonable or proper… In general, any excess or wandering from prescribed limits” Gallantry “Splendor of appearance… Vicious love or pretensions to love; civilities paid to females for the purpose of winning favors; hence, lewdness; debauchery.” Impious “Irreverent towards God; proceeding from or manifesting a contempt for the Supreme Being; tending to dishonor God or his laws, and bring them into contempt.” Iniquity “Injustice; unrighteousness” Insidious “deceitful; sly; treacherous” Insolence “Pride or haughtiness manifested in contemptuous and overbearing treatment of others; petulant contempt; impudence.” Martial “Pertaining to war” Militia “The militia of a country are the able bodied men organized into companies, regiments and brigades, with officers of all grades, and required by law to attend military exercises on certain days only, but at other times left to pursue their usual occupations.” Moderation “Restraint of violent passions or indulgence of appetite… Calmness of mind” Rapine “The act of plundering; the seizing and carrying away of things by force… Violence” Simulation “The act of feigning to be that which is not; the assumption of a deceitful appearance or character… the assuming of a false character… hypocrisy.” Venerable “Worthy of veneration or reverence; deserving of honor and respect” We also need to recall that the Battles of Lexington and Concord were fought in April 1775, and effectively started the Revolutionary War. Lexington and Concord are towns in Massachusetts. With a better understanding of the language and history, let's rewrite it in modern language: “Gentlemen, I received the letter Major General Hull and Brigadier General Walker sent me from Lexington, on your behalf. It was filled with an honorable military spirit that was truly representative of you, as well as Lexington, itself. While certain attitudes and policies are destroying other parts of the world, the United States remains untainted. Indeed, our country is sincere, and would not enact such deceitful, treacherous, and blasphemous policies. We should rejoice in the fact that God blessed us with such a country. But if our people ever become the same brand of hypocrites, lying to each other and to the foreign nations they interact with, pretending to practice justice and restraint while they are actually sinful, living in excess, and if they ever become prideful and thieving, this will become the worst place in the world to live. This is because no government has the power to stop their people when they are wicked and immoral. Greediness, power-seeking, revenge-seeking, and self-serving immorality, would destroy our Constitution, as a whale would destroy a net. Our Constitution will only work for us as long as our people have morals and serve God. It is useless otherwise. Your division of the Militia is honorably represented by such a firm, united, letter, from these officers who command 2800 of America's best citizens, who are willing and able to arm and handsomely uniform themselves at their own expense, and you do honor to your country. We still hold oaths sacred in this country. The oath you have taken to defend our country, and to which you have recommitted yourselves there in Lexington, truly signifies your sincerity and devotion to our country and government. John Adams” Truly, our country was blessed to have a restrained government in its earliest days, but we have become everything the Founding Fathers warned us not to become. By 'we' I do not mean individuals, of course, for there are some righteous among us, but I mean American culture, the general attitudes and practices of our day, and especially our leaders. You will recall that Ezra Taft Benson's first principle specifies that our "political institutions" must be founded on faith in God and belief in moral law. Can you even use the words hypocrite, liar, immoral, prideful, or thieving, without describing nearly every person or practice in our government today? The phrases "lolita express," "civil forfeiture," and "millionaire socialist" are perfect illustrations of some of these things. Without a belief in moral law, you end up with the "Law of Thelema", which says, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law". This is a Satanic doctrine that leads people to do horrifying things because they do not believe there will be eternal consequences for their actions. Understanding that we will be held accountable for our actions keeps us humble, and causes us to seek equity in all we do, for, as the scriptures clearly indicate, we will receive from God only what we have given to others. Prophets also have warned us against who we have become, precisely because our land was a gift to righteous men, with the specific promise of God's guidance and protection as long as we remained moral and God-fearing: “"And he had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of Jared, that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever, should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them." –Ether 2:8, Book of Mormon” “"Behold, it is expedient that much should be done among this people, because of the hardness of their hearts, and the deafness of their ears, and the blindness of their minds, and the stiffness of their necks; nevertheless, God is exceedingly merciful unto them, and has not as yet swept them off from the face of the land." –Jarom 1:3, Book of Mormon” Just like the Nephites, we only exist as a country because of God's mercy. But our destruction is imminent if we do not change–repent both personally and as a country, and return to the Constitution–before it is too late. Even then, your personal standing with God hangs in the balance based on what you do, right now, in the fight for freedom. “"There is no excuse that can compensate for the loss of liberty." –Ezra Taft Benson, Our Immediate Responsibility. BYU Devotional, October 25, 1966. (Audio | Text)” “"“Don’t you have faith in America?” say others. But America is made up of people – and only righteous patriotic people work to preserve their freedom. The American people’s blessings are conditioned on righteousness and nothing else." –Ezra Taft Benson, Our Immediate Responsibility.” ““Some may say, “I have faith the Lord will turn [our enemies] away.” What ground have we to hope this? Have I any good reason to say to my Father in heaven, “fight my battles,” when he has given me the sword to wield, the arm and the brain that I can fight for myself? Can I ask Him to fight my battles and sit quietly down waiting for Him to do so? I cannot. I can pray the people to harken to wisdom, to listen to counsel; but to ask God to do for me that which I can do for myself is preposterous to my mind.” –Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 12:241.” “"We know, as do no other people, that the Constitution of the United States is inspired – established by men whom the Lord raised up for that very purpose. We cannot – we must not – shirk our sacred responsibility to rise up in defense of our God-given freedom." –Ezra Taft Benson, Our Immediate Responsibility.” “We have been warned again and again and again. The Lords spokesman has consistently raised his voice of warning about the loss of our freedom. Now he that has ears, let him hear, and ye who praise the Lord, learn to also follow His spokesman. I know not what course others may take, but as for me and my house, we will strive to walk with the Prophet. And the Prophet has said that: “No greater immediate responsibility rests upon the members of the church, upon all citizens of this republic and of neighboring republics than to protect the freedom vouchsafe by the Constitution of the United States.” (The Instructor, August 1953.) In this mighty struggle each of you has a part. Be on the right side. Stand up and be counted. If you get discouraged, remember the words of Edward Everett Hale, when he said: “I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, that I ought to do, And what I ought to do, By the grace of God, I shall do!” –Ezra Taft Benson, Our Immediate Responsibility.” “"Alexander Hamilton, a soldier turned statesman… wrote that “it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force” (The Federalist, no. 1, p. 33)." –As quoted by David B. Haight in Ethics and Honesty, October 1987 General Conference”
Proper Government, Principle 1, An In-Depth Analysis
Principle One: ““NO PEOPLE CAN MAINTAIN FREEDOM UNLESS THEIR POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS ARE FOUNDED UPON FAITH IN GOD AND BELIEF IN THE EXISTENCE OF MORAL LAW.”” "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." You've read this quote from John Adams before, but have you read the complete letter from which it is taken? While the quote above does stand on its own quite well, the complete text gives further insight into what this Founding Father wanted us to know, and leads us into a discussion of this principle: Original text: “From John Adams to Massachusetts Militia, 11 October 1798 To the Officers of the first Brigade of the third Division of the Militia of Massachusetts Quincy October 11. 1798 Gentlemen I have received from Major General Hull and Brigadier General Walker your unanimous Address from Lexington, animated with a martial Spirit and expressed with a military Dignity, becoming your Characters and the memorable Plains, in which it was adopted. While our Country remains untainted with the Principles and manners, which are now producing desolation in so many Parts of the World: while the [sic; she?] continues Sincere and incapable of insidious and impious Policy: We shall have the Strongest Reason to rejoice in the local destination assigned Us by Providence. But should the People of America, once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another and towards foreign nations, which assumes the Language of Justice and moderation while it is practicing Iniquity and Extravagance; and displays in the most captivating manner the charming Pictures of Candour[,] frankness & sincerity while it is rioting in rapine and Insolence: this Country will be the most miserable Habitation in the World. Because We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by morality and Religion. Avarice, Ambition[,] Revenge or Galantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other[.] An Address so unanimous and firm from the officers commanding two thousand Eight hundred Men, consisting of such substantial Citizens as are able and willing at their own Expence, compleatly to arm, And cloath themselves in handsome Uniforms does honor to that Division of the Militia which has done so much honor to their Country. Oaths, in this Country, are as yet universally considered as Sacred Obligations. That which you have taken and so solemnly repeated on that venerable Spot is an ample Pledge of your sincerity, and devotion to your Country and its Government. John Adams (Source: archive.gov)” In order to better understand the language of Adams' day, let's define some terms. Some of them may seem familiar, but the meanings have changed over time, so we will consult Webster's 1828 Dictionary. Ambition “A desire of preferment, or of honor; a desire of excellence or superiority” [NOTE: Webster says this word is "used in a good sense", but it is obvious from context that this was not Adams' intention. Rather, he appears to have meant ambition similar to that of the Pharisees, who "love[d] the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues" (Matthew 23:6).] Avarice “An inordinate desire of gaining and possessing wealth; covetousness; greediness or insatiable desire of gain.” Candor “Openness of heart; frankness; ingenuousness of mind; a disposition to treat subjects with fairness; freedom from tricks or disguise; sincerity.” Desolation “destruction; ruin; waste” Extravagance “Excess of affection, passion or appetite… Excess in expenditures of property; the expending of money without necessity, or beyond what is reasonable or proper… In general, any excess or wandering from prescribed limits” Gallantry “Splendor of appearance… Vicious love or pretensions to love; civilities paid to females for the purpose of winning favors; hence, lewdness; debauchery.” Impious “Irreverent towards God; proceeding from or manifesting a contempt for the Supreme Being; tending to dishonor God or his laws, and bring them into contempt.” Iniquity “Injustice; unrighteousness” Insidious “deceitful; sly; treacherous” Insolence “Pride or haughtiness manifested in contemptuous and overbearing treatment of others; petulant contempt; impudence.” Martial “Pertaining to war” Militia “The militia of a country are the able bodied men organized into companies, regiments and brigades, with officers of all grades, and required by law to attend military exercises on certain days only, but at other times left to pursue their usual occupations.” Moderation “Restraint of violent passions or indulgence of appetite… Calmness of mind” Rapine “The act of plundering; the seizing and carrying away of things by force… Violence” Simulation “The act of feigning to be that which is not; the assumption of a deceitful appearance or character… the assuming of a false character… hypocrisy.” Venerable “Worthy of veneration or reverence; deserving of honor and respect” We also need to recall that the Battles of Lexington and Concord were fought in April 1775, and effectively started the Revolutionary War. Lexington and Concord are towns in Massachusetts. With a better understanding of the language and history, let's rewrite it in modern language: “Gentlemen, I received the letter Major General Hull and Brigadier General Walker sent me from Lexington, on your behalf. It was filled with an honorable military spirit that was truly representative of you, as well as Lexington, itself. While certain attitudes and policies are destroying other parts of the world, the United States remains untainted. Indeed, our country is sincere, and would not enact such deceitful, treacherous, and blasphemous policies. We should rejoice in the fact that God blessed us with such a country. But if our people ever become the same brand of hypocrites, lying to each other and to the foreign nations they interact with, pretending to practice justice and restraint while they are actually sinful, living in excess, and if they ever become prideful and thieving, this will become the worst place in the world to live. This is because no government has the power to stop their people when they are wicked and immoral. Greediness, power-seeking, revenge-seeking, and self-serving immorality, would destroy our Constitution, as a whale would destroy a net. Our Constitution will only work for us as long as our people have morals and serve God. It is useless otherwise. Your division of the Militia is honorably represented by such a firm, united, letter, from these officers who command 2800 of America's best citizens, who are willing and able to arm and handsomely uniform themselves at their own expense, and you do honor to your country. We still hold oaths sacred in this country. The oath you have taken to defend our country, and to which you have recommitted yourselves there in Lexington, truly signifies your sincerity and devotion to our country and government. John Adams” Truly, our country was blessed to have a restrained government in its earliest days, but we have become everything the Founding Fathers warned us not to become. By 'we' I do not mean individuals, of course, for there are some righteous among us, but I mean American culture, the general attitudes and practices of our day, and especially our leaders. You will recall that Ezra Taft Benson's first principle specifies that our "political institutions" must be founded on faith in God and belief in moral law. Can you even use the words hypocrite, liar, immoral, prideful, or thieving, without describing nearly every person or practice in our government today? The phrases "lolita express," "civil forfeiture," and "millionaire socialist" are perfect illustrations of some of these things. Without a belief in moral law, you end up with the "Law of Thelema", which says, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law". This is a Satanic doctrine that leads people to do horrifying things because they do not believe there will be eternal consequences for their actions. Understanding that we will be held accountable for our actions keeps us humble, and causes us to seek equity in all we do, for, as the scriptures clearly indicate, we will receive from God only what we have given to others. Prophets also have warned us against who we have become, precisely because our land was a gift to righteous men, with the specific promise of God's guidance and protection as long as we remained moral and God-fearing: “"And he had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of Jared, that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever, should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them." –Ether 2:8, Book of Mormon” “"Behold, it is expedient that much should be done among this people, because of the hardness of their hearts, and the deafness of their ears, and the blindness of their minds, and the stiffness of their necks; nevertheless, God is exceedingly merciful unto them, and has not as yet swept them off from the face of the land." –Jarom 1:3, Book of Mormon” Just like the Nephites, we only exist as a country because of God's mercy. But our destruction is imminent if we do not change–repent both personally and as a country, and return to the Constitution–before it is too late. Even then, your personal standing with God hangs in the balance based on what you do, right now, in the fight for freedom. “"There is no excuse that can compensate for the loss of liberty." –Ezra Taft Benson, Our Immediate Responsibility. BYU Devotional, October 25, 1966. (Audio | Text)” “"“Don’t you have faith in America?” say others. But America is made up of people – and only righteous patriotic people work to preserve their freedom. The American people’s blessings are conditioned on righteousness and nothing else." –Ezra Taft Benson, Our Immediate Responsibility.” ““Some may say, “I have faith the Lord will turn [our enemies] away.” What ground have we to hope this? Have I any good reason to say to my Father in heaven, “fight my battles,” when he has given me the sword to wield, the arm and the brain that I can fight for myself? Can I ask Him to fight my battles and sit quietly down waiting for Him to do so? I cannot. I can pray the people to harken to wisdom, to listen to counsel; but to ask God to do for me that which I can do for myself is preposterous to my mind.” –Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 12:241.” “"We know, as do no other people, that the Constitution of the United States is inspired – established by men whom the Lord raised up for that very purpose. We cannot – we must not – shirk our sacred responsibility to rise up in defense of our God-given freedom." –Ezra Taft Benson, Our Immediate Responsibility.” “We have been warned again and again and again. The Lords spokesman has consistently raised his voice of warning about the loss of our freedom. Now he that has ears, let him hear, and ye who praise the Lord, learn to also follow His spokesman. I know not what course others may take, but as for me and my house, we will strive to walk with the Prophet. And the Prophet has said that: “No greater immediate responsibility rests upon the members of the church, upon all citizens of this republic and of neighboring republics than to protect the freedom vouchsafe by the Constitution of the United States.” (The Instructor, August 1953.) In this mighty struggle each of you has a part. Be on the right side. Stand up and be counted. If you get discouraged, remember the words of Edward Everett Hale, when he said: “I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, that I ought to do, And what I ought to do, By the grace of God, I shall do!” –Ezra Taft Benson, Our Immediate Responsibility.” “"Alexander Hamilton, a soldier turned statesman… wrote that “it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force” (The Federalist, no. 1, p. 33)." –As quoted by David B. Haight in Ethics and Honesty, October 1987 General Conference”
The Need for Principles in Idaho Politics
Idaho has a problem. Our representatives lack principles. Let's look at some current evidence. Recently, voters passed Proposition 2, which seeks to expand Medicaid in our state. The problem? Like all socialist schemes, it forcibly takes money from all taxpayers, and redistributes it to those the state deems worthy. Yesterday, "The House Health & Welfare Committee… voted 7-5 to reject a proposed bill… to repeal" it. I don't have the right to force you to spend your money on my own pet projects, nor should you be allowed to force me to spend my money on yours. That's a pretty straightforward principle. Some proponents of Medicaid claim that they aren't for "redistributing wealth," they're just for "helping those in need," i.e., charity. Well, chalk another one up for principles! It isn't charity if you are forced to do it! There may even be some Idahoans who need their money even more than Medicare recipients, and who may not be deemed "qualified," and yet the state will still mercilessly rob them at gunpoint. How's that for charity? Another example: A few days ago, "Marsy's Law" (2018-HJR 8) passed the Idaho Senate, and is now being considered by the House. The problem? This same law has already been passed in other states and has been used to take guns away from citizens who were merely accused of something. You read that right, accused. No crimes were committed, and the guns were taken away without warning, before there was any sort of hearing, and without any crime having been committed! We are a nation that was founded on the principle of "innocent until proven guilty." A straightforward and true principle, for obvious reasons. Plus, Article 1, Section 11, of the Idaho Constitution, closes with the following line: "Nor shall any law permit the confiscation of firearms, except those actually used in the commission of a felony." No one should have their Second Amendment rights taken away unless they have been found guilty of committing a felony. That's already the law, and it is another straightforward principle! Yet, dozens of Idaho lawmakers failed to see the hypocrisy and voted to approve HJR-8. Along with many other Idaho citizens, I sent a request to my representatives that they sign a pledge never to sign a so-called "Red Flag Law", such as Marsy's Law. Because this is based on a very straightforward principle, I didn't see why anyone should have a problem signing such a pledge. However, I received a response from Representative Rod Furniss stating that he felt it was his duty to consider every law that came across his desk. Really? Is there nothing on which we can take a stand based merely on principle? He later shared his opposition to signing this pledge on his Facebook page, and said that he was open to "facts and logic" that might change his mind. I provided the requested facts and logic but received no response. For the record, even Idaho's branch of the ACLU is against this law. The reasons for opposing these laws are very clear me, and I hope to you, as well. So, why don't our representatives get it? Sources: 1. 'House Health & Welfare rejects 2 bills to overturn voters, repeal Medicaid expansion,' idahopress.com, Betsy Russell, Feb 21, 2019. https://www.idahopress.com/eyeonboise/house-health-welfare-rejects-bills-to-overturn-voters-repeal-medicaid/article_1420f9cc-ae9b-59b8-98b7-295ba7e00daf.html?fbclid=IwAR0aG44AxNZwd41F-6mItn-gxdhqjfa1SiNX6HuJRp3wDDGtm6XoVFKeBhI 2. 'Marsy's Law passes Idaho Senate, heads to House,' idahonews.com, Scott Logan, undated, posted Feb 18, 2019. https://idahonews.com/news/local/marsys-law-passes-idaho-senate-heads-to-house 3. Article 1, Section 11, Idaho State Constitution. https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idconst/arti/sect11/ 4. '2018- HJR 8 MARSY'S LAW', www.acluidaho.org. https://www.acluidaho.org/en/legislation/2018-hjr-8-marsys-law
Proper Government, Principle 1, An In-Depth Analysis
Principle One: ““NO PEOPLE CAN MAINTAIN FREEDOM UNLESS THEIR POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS ARE FOUNDED UPON FAITH IN GOD AND BELIEF IN THE EXISTENCE OF MORAL LAW.”” "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." You've read this quote from John Adams before, but have you read the complete letter from which it is taken? While the quote above does stand on its own quite well, the complete text gives further insight into what this Founding Father wanted us to know, and leads us into a discussion of this principle: Original text: “From John Adams to Massachusetts Militia, 11 October 1798 To the Officers of the first Brigade of the third Division of the Militia of Massachusetts Quincy October 11. 1798 Gentlemen I have received from Major General Hull and Brigadier General Walker your unanimous Address from Lexington, animated with a martial Spirit and expressed with a military Dignity, becoming your Characters and the memorable Plains, in which it was adopted. While our Country remains untainted with the Principles and manners, which are now producing desolation in so many Parts of the World: while the [sic; she?] continues Sincere and incapable of insidious and impious Policy: We shall have the Strongest Reason to rejoice in the local destination assigned Us by Providence. But should the People of America, once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another and towards foreign nations, which assumes the Language of Justice and moderation while it is practicing Iniquity and Extravagance; and displays in the most captivating manner the charming Pictures of Candour[,] frankness & sincerity while it is rioting in rapine and Insolence: this Country will be the most miserable Habitation in the World. Because We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by morality and Religion. Avarice, Ambition[,] Revenge or Galantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other[.] An Address so unanimous and firm from the officers commanding two thousand Eight hundred Men, consisting of such substantial Citizens as are able and willing at their own Expence, compleatly to arm, And cloath themselves in handsome Uniforms does honor to that Division of the Militia which has done so much honor to their Country. Oaths, in this Country, are as yet universally considered as Sacred Obligations. That which you have taken and so solemnly repeated on that venerable Spot is an ample Pledge of your sincerity, and devotion to your Country and its Government. John Adams (Source: archive.gov)” In order to better understand the language of Adams' day, let's define some terms. Some of them may seem familiar, but the meanings have changed over time, so we will consult Webster's 1828 Dictionary. Ambition “A desire of preferment, or of honor; a desire of excellence or superiority” [NOTE: Webster says this word is "used in a good sense", but it is obvious from context that this was not Adams' intention. Rather, he appears to have meant ambition similar to that of the Pharisees, who "love[d] the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues" (Matthew 23:6).] Avarice “An inordinate desire of gaining and possessing wealth; covetousness; greediness or insatiable desire of gain.” Candor “Openness of heart; frankness; ingenuousness of mind; a disposition to treat subjects with fairness; freedom from tricks or disguise; sincerity.” Desolation “destruction; ruin; waste” Extravagance “Excess of affection, passion or appetite… Excess in expenditures of property; the expending of money without necessity, or beyond what is reasonable or proper… In general, any excess or wandering from prescribed limits” Gallantry “Splendor of appearance… Vicious love or pretensions to love; civilities paid to females for the purpose of winning favors; hence, lewdness; debauchery.” Impious “Irreverent towards God; proceeding from or manifesting a contempt for the Supreme Being; tending to dishonor God or his laws, and bring them into contempt.” Iniquity “Injustice; unrighteousness” Insidious “deceitful; sly; treacherous” Insolence “Pride or haughtiness manifested in contemptuous and overbearing treatment of others; petulant contempt; impudence.” Martial “Pertaining to war” Militia “The militia of a country are the able bodied men organized into companies, regiments and brigades, with officers of all grades, and required by law to attend military exercises on certain days only, but at other times left to pursue their usual occupations.” Moderation “Restraint of violent passions or indulgence of appetite… Calmness of mind” Rapine “The act of plundering; the seizing and carrying away of things by force… Violence” Simulation “The act of feigning to be that which is not; the assumption of a deceitful appearance or character… the assuming of a false character… hypocrisy.” Venerable “Worthy of veneration or reverence; deserving of honor and respect” We also need to recall that the Battles of Lexington and Concord were fought in April 1775, and effectively started the Revolutionary War. Lexington and Concord are towns in Massachusetts. With a better understanding of the language and history, let's rewrite it in modern language: “Gentlemen, I received the letter Major General Hull and Brigadier General Walker sent me from Lexington, on your behalf. It was filled with an honorable military spirit that was truly representative of you, as well as Lexington, itself. While certain attitudes and policies are destroying other parts of the world, the United States remains untainted. Indeed, our country is sincere, and would not enact such deceitful, treacherous, and blasphemous policies. We should rejoice in the fact that God blessed us with such a country. But if our people ever become the same brand of hypocrites, lying to each other and to the foreign nations they interact with, pretending to practice justice and restraint while they are actually sinful, living in excess, and if they ever become prideful and thieving, this will become the worst place in the world to live. This is because no government has the power to stop their people when they are wicked and immoral. Greediness, power-seeking, revenge-seeking, and self-serving immorality, would destroy our Constitution, as a whale would destroy a net. Our Constitution will only work for us as long as our people have morals and serve God. It is useless otherwise. Your division of the Militia is honorably represented by such a firm, united, letter, from these officers who command 2800 of America's best citizens, who are willing and able to arm and handsomely uniform themselves at their own expense, and you do honor to your country. We still hold oaths sacred in this country. The oath you have taken to defend our country, and to which you have recommitted yourselves there in Lexington, truly signifies your sincerity and devotion to our country and government. John Adams” Truly, our country was blessed to have a restrained government in its earliest days, but we have become everything the Founding Fathers warned us not to become. By 'we' I do not mean individuals, of course, for there are some righteous among us, but I mean American culture, the general attitudes and practices of our day, and especially our leaders. You will recall that Ezra Taft Benson's first principle specifies that our "political institutions" must be founded on faith in God and belief in moral law. Can you even use the words hypocrite, liar, immoral, prideful, or thieving, without describing nearly every person or practice in our government today? The phrases "lolita express," "civil forfeiture," and "millionaire socialist" are perfect illustrations of some of these things. Without a belief in moral law, you end up with the "Law of Thelema", which says, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law". This is a Satanic doctrine that leads people to do horrifying things because they do not believe there will be eternal consequences for their actions. Understanding that we will be held accountable for our actions keeps us humble, and causes us to seek equity in all we do, for, as the scriptures clearly indicate, we will receive from God only what we have given to others. Prophets also have warned us against who we have become, precisely because our land was a gift to righteous men, with the specific promise of God's guidance and protection as long as we remained moral and God-fearing: “"And he had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of Jared, that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever, should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them." –Ether 2:8, Book of Mormon” “"Behold, it is expedient that much should be done among this people, because of the hardness of their hearts, and the deafness of their ears, and the blindness of their minds, and the stiffness of their necks; nevertheless, God is exceedingly merciful unto them, and has not as yet swept them off from the face of the land." –Jarom 1:3, Book of Mormon” Just like the Nephites, we only exist as a country because of God's mercy. But our destruction is imminent if we do not change–repent both personally and as a country, and return to the Constitution–before it is too late. Even then, your personal standing with God hangs in the balance based on what you do, right now, in the fight for freedom. “"There is no excuse that can compensate for the loss of liberty." –Ezra Taft Benson, Our Immediate Responsibility. BYU Devotional, October 25, 1966. (Audio | Text)” “"“Don’t you have faith in America?” say others. But America is made up of people – and only righteous patriotic people work to preserve their freedom. The American people’s blessings are conditioned on righteousness and nothing else." –Ezra Taft Benson, Our Immediate Responsibility.” ““Some may say, “I have faith the Lord will turn [our enemies] away.” What ground have we to hope this? Have I any good reason to say to my Father in heaven, “fight my battles,” when he has given me the sword to wield, the arm and the brain that I can fight for myself? Can I ask Him to fight my battles and sit quietly down waiting for Him to do so? I cannot. I can pray the people to harken to wisdom, to listen to counsel; but to ask God to do for me that which I can do for myself is preposterous to my mind.” –Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 12:241.” “"We know, as do no other people, that the Constitution of the United States is inspired – established by men whom the Lord raised up for that very purpose. We cannot – we must not – shirk our sacred responsibility to rise up in defense of our God-given freedom." –Ezra Taft Benson, Our Immediate Responsibility.” “We have been warned again and again and again. The Lords spokesman has consistently raised his voice of warning about the loss of our freedom. Now he that has ears, let him hear, and ye who praise the Lord, learn to also follow His spokesman. I know not what course others may take, but as for me and my house, we will strive to walk with the Prophet. And the Prophet has said that: “No greater immediate responsibility rests upon the members of the church, upon all citizens of this republic and of neighboring republics than to protect the freedom vouchsafe by the Constitution of the United States.” (The Instructor, August 1953.) In this mighty struggle each of you has a part. Be on the right side. Stand up and be counted. If you get discouraged, remember the words of Edward Everett Hale, when he said: “I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, that I ought to do, And what I ought to do, By the grace of God, I shall do!” –Ezra Taft Benson, Our Immediate Responsibility.” “"Alexander Hamilton, a soldier turned statesman… wrote that “it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force” (The Federalist, no. 1, p. 33)." –As quoted by David B. Haight in Ethics and Honesty, October 1987 General Conference”
Why Won't You Get Vaccinated?!?
As mass media raises fears about the so-called "Delta Variant," some are rushing to get the COVID "vaccine." Others see trusted figures getting "vaccinated," such as religious leaders and movie stars, and seek to follow their examples. Still others are relying on the judgment of health officials to compel them. Why, then, do some people still resist? Don't they care about the health of their community? Don't they want all that free stuff being offered to the "vaccinated"? Let's investigate. [1-Prophet Personal Choice.jpg] "I Saw [Religious Leader/Celebrity/Etc] Get Vaccinated, So That's Good Enough For Me!" But, should that be good enough for you? Brigham Young said[1]: “I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self security.” Joseph Smith made similar statements, both admonishing their followers – and all men – to think for themselves, as they will ultimately be held responsible for their own choices. In fact, the Lord Himself once admonished one of the early LDS Church leaders that "…you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right…" (D&C 9:7-8) You see that part about how "you must study it out in your mind"? That means you have to do your own research, and then seek verification of your decision. [2-Trust The Science.jpg] But I Trust Science! Sure, you can do that, as long as you recognize that you are putting your trust in other imperfect humans. Someone once said that science is just today's best guess waiting to be proven false. Historically, that's a fact! And yet, for some reason, each generation believes that their scientists wield the one ring of truth. But wait, is the science "settled" on COVID? It certainly is not. There is debate about whether or not it even exists! Why? Because normal scientific protocols have not been followed for this coronavirus. When doctors, microbiologists, immunologists, and virologists have asked for this missing information, they have been ignored and ridiculed! They've even had their pleas removed from social media platforms. One of these doctors, Samantha Bailey of New Zealand, posted a video on March 2, 2021, discussing this crucial missing data, as well as a 225,000 Euro reward for anyone who can provide it! You can see that video here[2]. See also this video[3]. So much about this "pandemic," and the response to it, has been irregular, that there are several groups of doctors and scientists speaking out, filing lawsuits, and submitting requests for the missing data, which has yet to surface, even after more than 18 months. A news group in Ireland submitted a Freedom Of Information Act request[4] to their health department for proof that the virus has been "isolated" (this is the missing data we have been referring to), and they were told that the health department was not in possession of any such information. The Investigative Corona Committee Germany says[5]: “SARS-COV-2 is the name given to the Wuhan virus. It was not cultivated at the beginning of the event and later has not been found in nature in the form documented as a computer file in early 2020.” The "form documented as a computer file" – or digital model – is what hospitals and Walgreens employees have been PCR "testing" for, in the absence of an actual isolated virus particle. In February 2021, NBC even interviewed China’s Chief epidemiologist Dr. Wu Zunyou, who said, "They didn’t isolate the virus, and that is the problem." In the same video[6], Dr. Andrew Kaufman, MD, explains why that means there is no proof that a COVID-19 virus even exists. You haven't heard about it in the mainstream media, but many, many scientists and doctors around the world have been speaking out against this facade since it began. Here are just a few, besides the ones quoted on this page: 12 Experts Questioning the Coronavirus Panic[7] 10 MORE Experts Criticising the Coronavirus Panic[8] “We Have A Lot of Evidence That It’s A Fake Story All Over The World” – German Doctors on COVID-19[9] And, since we love science so much, you might be interested in this article: MIT: Covid Skeptics Champion Science[10] While I'm glad we're talking science, there isn't space here to discuss Kary Mullis, the inventor of the PCR method (it is not a test![11]), and his hatred for Fauci[12] going all the way back to the 1980's, because he fraudulently used the PCR methodology to "detect" HIV/AIDS[13], the same way he has fraudulently used it to "detect" COVID. But What About All Those Dead People?!? Great question! In November of 2020, Professor Genevieve Briand of Johns Hopkins University used official COVID data from the CDC in a lecture on statistics. What she found was a shock both to her and to her students: there was no statistically significant increase in deaths since COVID began. Instead, deaths that had previously been attributed to flu, upper respiratory diseases, bronchitis, etc, were almost non-existent, while they instead were labeled "COVID deaths." The only increase was around April 2020, when they put sick people into nursing homes and many highly-susceptible elderly people died. You can watch a shortened version of professor Briand's lecture here.[14] But that's just one person, right? Wrong. In April 2020, funeral directors in New York (which was supposedly the epicenter of the pandemic) reported that the number of COVID deaths was greatly exaggerated, with people "padding statistics," "writing COVID on all the death certificates" so they could get federal funds, and "making the death toll a lot higher for New York than it should be." (Source[15]) New York was supposedly the "hotbed" for COVID, remember? In May 2020, Dr. Pamela Popper also released a video discussing the statistics, and explaining that they were being "deliberately falsified."[16] And, for the record, both the Illinois Department of Public Health Director and the White House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator confirmed on video[17] that they were inflating COVID death statistics by counting people who supposedly died with COVID, but who obviously died of other causes, as "COVID deaths," which only served to exaggerate fear among the general population. [3-Smoking Doesn't Cause Cancer.jpg] But [I/My Uncle/My Neighbor] Had COVID! I Know It's Real!" Well, you/they had something, that's true, and were told it was COVID. But you don't know it was COVID any more than you know the CDC is telling the truth this time. So What Does This Have To Do With The Vaccine? Well, first, clearly a vaccination would not be necessary if the illness itself does not exist. Second, another of the irregularities surrounding COVID is the redefining of "vaccine" to include a genetic modification procedure, which has never been included in the definition of a vaccine until recently, when it was conveniently redefined. “WHAT IS THIS MRNA "VACCINATION" ALL ABOUT? So-called mRNA/DNA “vaccines” are being developed against SARS-CoV-2. They are a premiere genetic engineering mass experiment on humans. Genetic material is injected into the muscle, which is then introduced into the cells using nanoparticles or viruses that have been genetically modified in various ways. It then programs the target cells reached (targets) to produce parts of viruses themselves, which the body cells then present or release as antigens. This represents, even if it is worded differently in the law, de facto a genetic manipulation on humans. It is also a procedure that has never been routinely used on humans. This means that several immediate or subsequent strong erroneous reactions are possible. The most dangerous consequences are thromboses or life-threatening misregulation of the immune system at the next contact with natural coronaviruses (ADE). (Source[18])” Remember how these "vaccines" are "experimental"? They are experimenting on you! On the CDC's "Understanding mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines" page[19], last updated May 4, 2021, they state that "COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Will Be Rigorously Evaluated for Safety". Notice that word will. As in, they are in the process. While experimenting on you. The same page links to an FDA document[20] that contains the following: “FDA is globally respected for its scientific standards of vaccine safety, effectiveness and quality. The agency provides scientific and regulatory advice to vaccine developers and undertakes a rigorous evaluation of the scientific information through all phases of clinical trials, which continues after a vaccine has been approved by FDA or authorized for emergency use."” The sad part is, however, that most people are unaware of the revolving door between the leadership of the FDA and the leadership of the major pharmaceutical companies. Most would question their "respect for [the] scientific standards" of the FDA if they understood that these people literally go back and forth between their posts. According to NPR[21]: “…about 27 percent of the total number of reviewers left their federal oversight posts to work for the industry they previously regulated.” According to journalist Ben Swann[22]: “[One] former commissioner of the FDA [is] accused, along with her husband, of making hundreds of millions of dollars while suppressing information about deadly drugs."” And, according to RT America[23]: “Drug companies are capitalizing on this by offering MASSIVE salaries as a means of buying influence among FDA staff responsible for approving new drugs in an all-out bidding war.” While we're talking about the government experimenting on you, the same FDA page linked to above explains it all, even as the government and mainstream media scream "safe and effective!" in your face, repeatedly: “Under an EUA [Emergency Use Authorization], FDA may allow the use of unapproved medical products… in an emergency to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions when certain statutory criteria have been met, including that there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.” While the CDC simultaneously claims that "mRNA vaccines have been held to the same rigorous safety and effectiveness standards as all other types of vaccines…" If this were true, they would be have been approved before being administered to the population! Third, many, many people around the world have been injured or killed already by the "vaccines." In May 2021, Del Bigtree interviewed three health care workers[24] who suffered harm after receiving injections. They aren't the only ones, but they are some of the few who haven't been completely afraid to speak out. While the mainstream media continues to tout the "safe and effective" mantra, alternative news sources have been busy reporting on "vaccine"-related deaths, and interviewing those who have been suffering strange effects following their shots. One doctor from Canada, Dr. Charles Hoffe, reported to westernstandardonline.com[25] that he has "found blood clots in 62% of post-jab patients." On August 5, 2021, the Idaho Freedom Foundation reported[26] on an Idaho man who was paralyzed from the waist down after receiving his COVID "vaccination". “World Renowned Physician & COVID Expert Says Vaccines are Bioterrorism[27] Peter McCullough, MD, is Professor of Medicine and Vice Chief of Internal Medicine at Baylor University. He also teaches at Texas A&M University. He is one of the most widely cited physicians in the world. He is interviewed here by Reiner Fuellmich, a German attorney who is gathering evidence in preparation of a lawsuit against those who have used their positions of authority to lie about the COVID pandemic for their personal gain and to further other hidden agendas. Dr. McCullough says that, by the end of the first six months of mass inoculations in 2021, the vaccine death rate had climbed to 50,000, which is ten times higher than the published number – and that does not include the far greater number of fatalities expected from long-term reactions in the months ahead. He says the illness called COVID-19 is portrayed as much worse than it really is and poses no significant threat except to the old and those with multiple illnesses. The real threat is from the vaccines. Frightening people by relabeling the common flu as a deadly pandemic and then using that fear to stampede them to accept a vaccine that causes infertility and early death is nothing less than population reduction by bioterrorism.” On March 25, 2021, Dr. Mike Yeadon, former VP of Pfizer said[28]: “Knowing as I do that the design of these ‘vaccines’ results, in the expression in the bodies of recipients, expression of the spike protein, which has adverse biological effects of its own which, in some people, are harmful (initiating blood coagulation and activating the immune ‘complement system’), I’m determined to point out that those not at risk from this virus should not be exposed to the risk of unwanted effects from these agents.” Cross-reference that comment about "blood coagulation" with the previous doctor's statement about "blood clots" in his patients. Dr. Yeadon also said he believes this "vaccination" campaign will be used for "massive-scale depopulation." Where would he get that idea? See point seven, below, for starters. Fourth, more irregularities, including Event 201[29], where the COVID "pandemic" was practiced, and world leaders were taught the "appropriate" responses to it, just a few months before it was even "discovered!" Did you notice how almost every country suddenly had the same plan for dealing with this situation? It was no coincidence. Fifth, it was discovered that "vaccine passports," which we are told are our only way back to normal, were actually proposed by the European Commission all the way back in April 2018![30] Sixth, dozens of women have reported suffering miscarriages[31] following their "vaccinations." Seventh, the involvement of billionaire Bill Gates, who declared in a TED talk that: “First, we've got population. The world today has 6.8 billion people. That's headed up to about nine billion. Now, if we do a really great job on new vaccines, health care, reproductive health services, we could lower that by, perhaps, 10 or 15 percent. (Source[32])” Some claim that this is taken out of context, but that entire quote is the context. Go watch the video for yourself! He wants to use vaccines to reduce the world's population. Oh, and he is a third-generation eugenicist.[33] See also: Exclusive: Former Pfizer VP to AFLDS: ‘Entirely possible this will be used for massive-scale depopulation’[34] Eighth, more irregularities and redefining of terms![35] “According to the WHO criteria in force until 2009, a pandemic was defined as an event with a severe course of disease and extreme mortality. In May 2009, the definition was revised so that it no longer depended on the severity of the disease, but only on a worldwide spread. ” [4-Noxious Substances.jpg] But This All Sounds Like Conspiracy Theories! Let's break that down for a second. What is a conspiracy? According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary[36], it is "A combination of men for an evil purpose; an agreement between two or more persons, to commit some crime in concert… a plot…" Do people ever plot or scheme or make a plan, and keep it secret? Of course they do! Whether you believe Biden colluded (ie, conspired) to steal the election from Trump, or that Trump colluded (ie, conspired) with Russia, or that Jeffrey Epstein was murdered in his cell to keep him quiet about secret visits to his pedophile island by the wealthy, famous, and powerful, you know that conspiracies are a fact. BUT, because they are deliberately kept secret, we are left to discover them one piece at a time, and thus theorize along the way! In the April 1972 General Conference of the LDS Church[37], Apostle Ezra Taft Benson declared that “There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon — it is a conspiracy fact.” We have all of the scriptures to show us that this is how Satan has always worked![38] He conspired with Cain in the very beginning (See D&C 84:16), whose wicked children also conspired to commit wickedness (See, for instance, Gen. 4:23-24)! For this reason, you will not be surprised to learn that the CIA invented the term "conspiracy theorist" to discredit those who are doing their own homework. Nor will you be surprised to learn that all of the "fact-checking" sites dutifully claim this is untrue. Well, here is a great place to start finding out for yourself.[39] “There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance. This principle is, contempt prior to examination. –attributed to William Paley” So, What Are You Saying? The main lesson is this one: “We must cast aside the philosophies of men and the wisdom of the wise and hearken to that Spirit which is given to us to guide us into all truth. – Bruce R. McConkie. ("The Purifying Power of Gethsemane," April 1985 General Conference.[40])” And the next, if you are still somehow concerned that COVID is real: “I preached to a large congregation at the stand, on the science and practice of medicine, desiring to persuade the Saints to trust in God when sick, and not in an arm of flesh, and live by faith and not by medicine, or poison; and when they were sick, and had called for the Elders to pray for them, and they were not healed, to use herbs and mild food. – Joseph Smith, History of the Church 4:414[41]” Sources 1. https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Source:Brigham_Young:1862: \ JD_9:150:I_am_more_afraid_that_this_people_have_so_much_confidence_in \ _their_leaders_that_they_will_not_inquire_for_themselves_of_God 2. https://needtoknow.news/2021/03/new-zealand-doctor-explains-the-non-science-behind-covid-19-and-the-e225000-reward-for-anyone-who-can-prove-it-exists/ 3. https://www.brighteon.com/a3a4b167-cad9-4dee-9a58-d5f083544d94 4. https://principia-scientific.com/irish-government-admits-covid-19-does-not-exist/ 5. https://corona-ausschuss.de/en/faq/ 6. https://redpilluniversity.org/chinas-chief-epidemiologist-admits-covid-19-was-never-proven-to-exist/ 7. https://off-guardian.org/2020/03/24/12-experts-questioning-the-coronavirus-panic/ 8. https://off-guardian.org/2020/03/28/10-more-experts-criticising-the-coronavirus-panic/ 9. https://www.collective-evolution.com/2020/08/17/we-have-a-lot-of-evidence-that-its-a-fake-story-all-over-the-world-german-doctors-on-covid-19/ 10. https://www.minds.com/CorbettReport/blog/mit-covid-skeptics-champion-science-1243196579867037696 11. https://www.brighteon.com/2d4f2b32-a417-4f17-94d2-a58a0e2e4744 12. https://dryburgh.com/kary-mullis-pcr-anthony-fauci/ 13. https://uncoverdc.com/2020/04/07/was-the-covid-19-test-meant-to-detect-a-virus/ 14. https://defendingidaho.org/articles/58/covid-19-death-statistics-in-20-minutes 15. https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bethbaumann/2020/05/03/project-veritas-sounds-the-alarm-on-deaths-falsely-attributed-to-the-wuhan-coronavirus-n2568099 16. https://redpilluniversity.org/doctor-says-covid-19-death-statistics-are-criminally-fraudulent/ 17. https://needtoknow.news/2021/04/proof-that-the-world-health-organization-relabeled-flu-cases-as-covid-19-to-invent-the-pandemic/ 18. https://corona-ausschuss.de/en/faq/ 19. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mRNA.html 20. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines/emergency-use-authorization-vaccines-explained 21. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/09/28/495694559/a-look-at-how-the-revolving-door-spins-from-fda-to-industry 22. https://thevaccinereaction.org/2018/11/the-revolving-door-between-the-fda-and-big-pharma/ 23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=creAmlypkCg 24. https://redpilluniversity.org/vaccine-injured-health-care-workers-speak-out/ 25. https://westernstandardonline.com/2021/07/bc-doc-says-hes-found-blood-clots-in-62-of-post-jab-patients/ 26. https://www.facebook.com/idahofreedom/videos/344380923999863 27. https://redpilluniversity.org/world-renowned-physician-and-expert-on-covid-treatment-says-vaccines-are-bioterrorism 28. https://americasfrontlinedoctors.org/frontlinenews/exclusive-former-pfizer-vp-to-aflds-entirely-possible-this-will-be-used-for-massive-scale-depopulation/ 29. https://www.corbettreport.com/interview-1562-james-corbett-tackles-event-201-the-great-reset-and-the-end-of-humanity/ 30. https://needtoknow.news/2021/04/european-plans-for-vaccine-passports-were-in-place-20-months-prior-to-the-pandemic/ 31. https://prepareforchange.net/2021/03/11/3-dozen-cases-of-spontaneous-miscarriages-stillbirths-occurring-after-cv-injection. Original, behind paywall: https://www.theepochtimes.com/3-dozen-cases-of-spontaneous-miscarriages-stillbirths-occurring-after-covid-19-vaccination_3716385.html 32. https://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates_innovating_to_zero/transcript#t-278034 33. https://www.corbettreport.com/who-is-bill-gates-full-documentary-2020/ 34. https://americasfrontlinedoctors.org/frontlinenews/exclusive-former-pfizer-vp-to-aflds-entirely-possible-this-will-be-used-for-massive-scale-depopulation/ 35. https://corona-ausschuss.de/en/faq/ 36. http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/conspiracy 37. https://www.mormonchronicle.com/waking-up-to-secret-combinations-an-lds-perspective-on-conspiracy/. See also: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1972/04/civic-standards-for-the-faithful-saints?lang=eng 38. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/triple-index/conspiracy?lang=eng and https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/triple-index/secret-combination?lang=eng) 39. https://projectunspeakable.com/conspiracy-theory-invention-of-cia/ 40. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1985/04/the-purifying-power-of-gethsemane?lang=eng 41. https://byustudies.byu.edu/further-study-lesson/volume-4-chapter-24/
The Name's Bond. School Bond.
Citizens across Idaho are facing upcoming votes to address proposed bonds, most of them school bonds. We have been impressed with the amount of public discourse around these, and specifically with some who have clearly thought it through, crunched numbers, and so forth, but what we have not been impressed with, however, is the lack of discussion about principles. This is actually the only discussion that needs to be had, since a proposition that clearly violates true principles is not a proposal to be taken seriously. To begin with, we must clearly understand that voting in a bond means going into debt and paying it back through future taxation. Those are two enormous red flags right out of the gate. On the Dave Ramsey website, we read: “What’s the legal definition of debt? “Debt is a financial liability or obligation owed by one person, the debtor, to another, the creditor.” In other words, debt is when someone borrows money (a debtor) and is responsible for paying back the person or company who loaned them that money (the creditor or lender). ” As we mentioned, in the case of bonds, the repayment comes in the form of future taxation. This is nefarious in several ways. One could easily vote in a bond and then move out of the area, thereby using the force of law to commit someone else to pay off the debt. The rising generation that becomes old enough to pay taxes also gets saddled with debt they had no say in. This is immoral. Others are also unfairly saddled with debts earmarked for public schools, including those who homeschool, or who have no children in school. For homeschooling parents, the injustice is multiplied by the fact that they are forced to help pay for a service they do not use, and that spends wastefully its ever-increasing budget, while they themselves give their children an inarguably better education at a mere fraction of the cost. "But education! We have to have schools! If we don't force everyone to pay for public schools, kids will be dumb because there is nowhere else on planet Earth where anyone could possibly get an education! Won't somebody think of the children?!?" These are the types of comments that get thrown around when you start advocating true principles. You will notice that they boil down to the following: 1. "My way is the best and only way!" This is clearly a falsehood. In our day, there are innumerable ways to get an education. Apprenticeship is one way into a lucrative career, and requires little to no money down. Oh! Ever heard of the internet? It's this neat place where you can literally learn anything for nothing or next to nothing. Colleges and kind people offer free or inexpensive courses and materials. There are low-fee things like coding boot camps, and master courses. The real problem these people have with this approach? There is no one to force things like critical race theory and gay porn on your kindergartener. 2. "Everyone else has to pay for what I want! Especially since it is in the "public's best interest!"" This is one of the underlying principles of Socialism, and quite clearly violates the Constitution, no matter who espouses it. (Looking at you, every president of the United States for the past 90 years…) Ezra Taft Benson himself addressed the immorality inherent in this approach in his amazing work, The Proper Role Of Government, when he said: “[N]ow we come to the moment of truth. Suppose pioneer “A” wants another horse for his wagon, He doesn’t have the money to buy one, but since pioneer “B” has an extra horse, he decides that he is entitled to share in his neighbor’s good fortune, Is he entitled to take his neighbor’s horse? Obviously not! If his neighbor wishes to give it or lend it, that is another question. But so long as pioneer “B” wishes to keep his property, pioneer “A” has no just claim to it. If “A” has no proper power to take “B’s” property, can he delegate any such power to the sheriff? No. Even if everyone in the community desires that “B” give his extra horse to “A”, they have no right individually or collectively to force him to do it. They cannot delegate a power they themselves do not have. This important principle was clearly understood and explained by John Locke nearly 300 years ago: ““For nobody can transfer to another more power than he has in himself, and nobody has an absolute arbitrary power over himself, or over any other, to destroy his own life, or take away the life or property of another.””” This leads us to the correct approach to anything one might feel inclined to make everyone else pay for: "If his neighbor wishes to give it or lend it, that is another question." In other words, when you want a new school building, you start collecting funds from those who want it, and are willing and able to pitch in. When you have enough money, you pay for it! That's it! On the website for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we read: “Since the early days of the Church, the Lord’s prophets have repeatedly warned against the bondage of debt… Discipline yourself in your purchases, avoiding debt to the extent you can. In most cases, you can avoid debt by managing your resources wisely.” Can we not, as the Church itself exemplifies, save up the money and spend it when we have it? Would that not be wisdom? Last year, Defending Idaho published a resource page on Education that pointed out the following: “Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have no excuse when it comes to public education. They were warned and forewarned by their leaders for decades to send their children to faithful teachers, and not people of the world, and that they should pay for their children's tuitions themselves. Why? They gave six reasons:[1] 1. Taxes were not necessary… Brigham Young said to a group of parents, “Do not say you cannot school them, for you can. There is not a family in this community but we will take and school their children if they are not able to do it themselves.” 2. Taxing took away the opportunity of freely giving and, consequently, its attendant blessings. 3. Taxes create both waste and abuse. 4. Those disbursing taxes often assume undue authority to enforce compliance to additional or unrelated regulations. 5. Taxes foster indolence and recipients of public tax money frequently demonstrate dependency upon the state. 6. Parents and local community members have greater interest in their children and in their educational situation than does the government. Somewhat intertwined with the fourth principle, it is known that the closer parents are to the education of their children, the more viable and important it becomes.” Think of the wisdom in each of these statements. #6 alone would have kept trash like critical race theory out of our schools from the beginning! Now, go forth and vote, applying true principles at every turn, and you will find yourself freer by the year! As a rule, always vote no on higher taxes, including bonds, even when they are for "good" things. True principles demand it! Sources: Debt. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/debt?lang=eng, accessed 2022-02-17. Education. Defending Idaho, https://defendingidaho.org/education, accessed 2022-02-17. The Proper Role Of Government. Latter-day Conservative, https://www.latterdayconservative.com/ezra-taft-benson/the-proper-role-of-government/, accessed 2022-02-17. What Is Debt? Ramsey Solutions, https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-definition, accessed 2022-02-17.
Harvard Professor Preaches Historical Revisionism to Idaho Politicians, No One Notices
According to the March 8th Legislative Update email from Idaho's District 35, "Dr. David Moss, a professor at Harvard University’s Business School, visited Idaho’s Capitol last week to present his lecture on the U.S. Constitution." Sound promising? Think again! “As the guest of The McClure Center, Dr. Moss gave a presentation in the Lincoln Auditorium entitled, “Bringing History to Life: Creating the U.S. Constitution.” Dr. Moss is the author of Democracy: A Case Study, which is an in-depth study on the history of American democracy.” It's nice that some of our lawmakers took time out of their busy schedules to attend such a presentation, but no one seemed to notice that the entire premise was fundamentally flawed. If they had instead studied the Constitution, and the lengthy elaborations provided by the Founding Fathers themselves, they might have remembered that the United States is a republic and not a democracy! A republic provides for checks and balances outlined in the Constitution itself, the word of God, and the laws of nature, while a democracy, according to Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, "is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch." The very idea of democracy should be offensive to liberty-loving Americans, for all one must do to legalize theft is convince the majority that they will benefit from it! Idahoans, unfortunately, are happy with their free lunch, as the wolves in the majority recently voted to plunder the other 40% to expand Medicaid, an already-offensive scheme. Some time in the past, frightened majority voters in idaho gave up their liberties to make themselves feel safer, in the form of mandatory vehicle insurance. Liberty-loving Americans have taken a stand in recent years against the government forcing them to purchase a healthcare product. How is this any different? It is theft, pure and simple. We now face further government encroachment with House Bill 95, which allows the DMV to refuse to register your vehicle, thereby revoking your God-given, natural, right to travel, unless you provide proof of insurance. Don't get me wrong, insurance is a nifty convenience that most of us are willing to pay for "peace of mind" that our expenses will be covered in the event of an accident. But by what principle do we command our neighbor to do likewise? “Keep in mind that the people who have created their government can give to that government only such powers as they themselves have. They cannot give that which they do not possess. In a primitive state, there is no doubt that each man would be justified in using force, if necessary, to defend himself against physical harm, against theft of the fruits of his labor, and against enslavement by another. Indeed, the early pioneers found that a great deal of their time and energy was being spent defending themselves, their property, and their liberty. For man to prosper, he cannot afford to spend his time constantly guarding his family, his fields, and his property against attack and theft. When he joins together with his neighbors and hires a sheriff, government is born. The individual citizens delegate to the sheriff their unquestionable right to protect themselves. The sheriff now does for them only that which they had a right to do for themselves—nothing more. But suppose pioneer ‘A’ wants another horse for his wagon. He doesn't have the money to buy one, but since pioneer ‘B’ has an extra horse, he decides that he is entitled to share in his neighbor's good fortune. Is he entitled to take his neighbor's horse? Obviously not! If his neighbor wishes to give it or lend it, that is another question. But so long as pioneer ‘B’ wishes to keep his property, pioneer ‘A’ has no just claim to it. If ‘A’ has no proper power to take ‘B's’ property, can he delegate any such power to the sheriff? No. Even if everyone in the community desires that ‘B’ give his extra horse to ‘A,’ they have no right individually or collectively to force him to do it. They cannot delegate a power they themselves do not have.” The worst part about this professor's revisionist history is that it is "being introduced to high schools as part of the High School Case Method Project, which the professor oversees at Harvard Business School. At the Capitol, Dr. Moss met with 20 Idaho teachers who are using his high school curriculum in their schools." Translation: our children will be the next generation to believe that "majority rules" is enshrined in the Constitution. It is time for Idaho citizens to stand up for the principles that made this country great! Let us collectively reject democracy and socialism, nullify existing bad laws, and enjoy our own lives, liberty, and property! Sources: 1. Democracy quote from Ben Franklin courtesy of GoodReads. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7718791-democracy-is-two-wolves-and-a-lamb-voting-on-what 2. HOUSE BILL 95, legislature.idaho.gov. https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2019/legislation/H0095/ 3. "The Proper Role of Government," Ezra Taft Benson. (Latter-day Conservative) https://www.latterdayconservative.com/ezra-taft-benson/the-proper-role-of-government/ Image Credits: 1. Sheep photo by Keven Law, Los Angeles, USA. (Wikimedia Commons)