Kim Jong Un and King Lamoni

I have a crazy theory:

I have been very interested in the possibility of North Korean peace negotiations and the developments with North Korea. Like everyone I wonder if Kim Jong Un (the North Korean President) is really willing to give up the nuclear weapons development and actually put an end to the Korean War. It seems so odd that he would be doing such an about-face. To go from threatening nuclear war to wanting peace. It seems impossible that he really would be willing to change so fast.  Then recently I thought of what it must have looked like when King Lamoni or his father's was converted to the gospel in Book of Mormon times. They both did an about-face that I think took everyone by surprise. And only the Holy Spirit could change someone's hart that fast. 

Of course I don't know if Kim Jong Un is serious and I don't know of any missionaries that are in North Korea. But I do know that the Lord works in mysterious ways. And I know that both King Lamoni and his father were capable of making this change. So why can't Kim Jong Un? As for the question "Is it possible for Kim Jong Un to even repent because of all the despicable things he has done?" King Lamoni was known to kill servants who could not maintain his flock, is that very different from what Kim Jong Un has done? 


This is just a theory. Time will only tell what, if any, change of heart Kim Jong Un might possibly have. But I can hope that he is repenting and praying like King Lamoni's Father: "I will give away all my sins to know thee" Alma 22:18

Come Listen to the Prophet

In the Sunday morning session the October 2015 General Conference President Thomas S. Monson gave a talk entitled “Be an Example and a Light” towards the end of his talk he started to struggle and slump down and needed help to get back to his seat when he was complete. I have seen a lot of articles on social media about how hard it was to see him like that and how people wished they could have supported him.  I agree this all of this but I think we all are missing the whole point.

Here is our modern day prophet holding to the pulpit with all his might in order to give the instruction the Lord wants him to give. He is using all of his strength to deliver the Lord’s message.  He is willing to stay there until the message is delivered or he will die trying. To me that means that his message must be important! Maybe we better really study it and really ponder it and actually try to implement it in our daily lives! I think we have focused too much on the man and not on the message.

President Monson reminds me of leader from the Book of Mormon. Near the end of his life, King Benjamin gave one of the most powerful sermons ever recorded in the Book of Mormon. Take a look at some of the things that King Benjamin said at the beginning of his speech Mosiah 2: 9&30.

“9 …I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view.” 

 “30 For even at this time, my whole frame doth tremble exceedingly while attempting to speak unto you; but the Lord God doth support me, and hath suffered me that I should speak unto you…”

King Benjamin then proceeds to give a sermon that resulted in everyone covenanting to follow the Lord and keep His commandments.  That is a pretty impressive sermon! I am not going to spend the time breaking it down and discussing it. Please read it and study it for yourselves. But I don’t think that the Nephites who heard his voice were focused on the fact that their leader “doth tremble exceedingly while attempting to speak”. They were focused on the message and after the sermon the Nephites said in Mosiah 5:2-5 :

2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.
  3 And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things.
  4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.
  5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.

That is very impressive but as far as I can tell, President Monson’s sermon was just as great. It was given directly to us, the saints today. I was going to take out snippets of his words and decided not to. We need to read all of his words and study and ponder them all until we can say: “Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.”

This is what President Monson wants. This is what the Lord wants. And this is what we need to do.

Keeping on the Armor of God

 My time as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was one of the happiest times in my life.  I learned the most about the gospel. I served the Lord and my fellow man. And I grew the most spiritually.  I forgot about the cares and worries of the world and did the Lord’s work.

Then I came home and I let the world into my life.  I got distracted from the things of the Lord.  I became apart of the world. And as such have been struggling with sin and weaknesses.  It seems that I have not been able to progress because of my struggles.

Then recently I have read in Ephesians 6:13-18 about putting on the whole armor of God. I really started thinking about it.  Having the Lord’s armor protects us from the attacks for Satan.  Having on His armor, we can protect our weak flesh and wants.

I loved this quote from the recent conference talk by Elder Kevin W. Pearson of the Seventy:

“Shortly before President Heber J. Grant passed away, one of the Brethren visited his home. Before he left, President Grant prayed, “O God, bless me that I shall not lose my testimony and keep faithful to the end!” After nearly 27 years as President of the Church, this was his fervent prayer. His example is a striking reminder that no one, at any age, is immune from Satan’s influence.”

So how could a prophet of God have such a worry? Because the inner man is weak.  Without the armor of God protecting him, man will fail.  So why is God’s armor so vital to us staying true and not giving in to the temptations of the devil? Because Christ does not take off His armor when we put it on!  He is there with us—Always! He will fight our battles and we will be protected.

The key is keeping on the armor of God.  It was said for Captain Moroni, in the Book of Mormon, that “if all men had been, and were, and ever would be like unto Moroni, behold the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever, yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.”  (Alma 48:17) Moroni was so great because he “did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people.” (Alma 48:12) and “did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites” (Alma 50:1) He did the same in his personal life through much study and prayer he leaned on the Lord for strength.

That is what I need to do.  I have not been diligent of making preparations for the spiritual battles that will come because of being here on earth.  I had assumed for years that praying twice a day and reading the scriptures before bedtime would be enough.  But it is not.  I need to give my entire life to the Lord.  I have wasted too much of everyday to reading social media or watching TV or other worldly pursuits that do not strengthen my armor.  A lot of them weaken it! 

I realize I need to be like a missionary and put off the things of the world.  The missionary rules were there to help me stay on the Lord’s side of the line, to keep his armor girded around my soul.  I need to do the same now and always.  I think one of the main reasons we go out on missions at 18-19 years old is to teach us how to be adults.  How real men act. I cannot imagine President Monson spending much time on the Internet.  I cannot imagine Captain Moroni playing video games.  I cannot imagine the Savior spending any time on Facebook.  I do see these men teaching their families about God. I see these men helping their neighbors or others in need. I see these men spending any free time that they might have in the scriptures or in prayer.  And I will do the same.  Putting on the armor of God is not a once a day pursuit of reading the scriptures a few minutes before going to bed. It is an every hour of every day pursuit.  And I need to start making it so!

Sources for Ideas and Thoughts

I was reading the book Putting on the Armor of God by Steven A Cramer

and I came to a part that talks about the sources of thoughts and ideas.  He says that thoughts come from only three places: Our own independent ideas with no outside influence, from God through the Holy Ghost, and finally from whisperings from satan.  I have been taught this since before I can remember but it had not really sunk in until it was put that way.  And I realized that recognizing the source of inspiration is key to not getting lost or going astray...and continuing to progress and become better people.

Let me give an example that I had recently.  I was reading in Mosiah 25: 17-18, I was reading how Alma baptized all of Limhi's people. And I thought, "Why would all these people wait such a long time to get baptized?  They escaped imprisonment in the land of Nephi a while before Alma escaped his own bondage by the Lamanites.”  

I thought this because it was the same Lamanite guards who had been chasing Limhi's people that put Alma's people into captivity after they lost Limhi's people in the wilderness. So Limhi’s people had to either wait a very long time to get baptized which seemed odd because they were asking to be baptized before they has left the land of Nephi. Or they had to arrive in the land of Zerahemla around the same time. (Which Mosiah 25 sounds like to me what happened)

After thinking all this, the thought came into my mind: "This proves the Book of Mormon is not true!"

Then I quickly remembered all the many many times I have felt the Spirit while reading the Book of Mormon.  I remembered all the many times the words of that book had helped me throughout my life.  I remembered how I had seen the book change other people’s lives for the better.  And I thought “OF COURSE I KNOW THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE!”

Then I realized that these three thoughts came from three different sources. The original question, I thought myself. The second thought came from satan and he was trying to do his best to convince me that what I knew to be true was somehow false. And the last thought was from the Holy Ghost reminding me of my testimony.

I still don't know the answer to my first question. Maybe Alma's people somehow did arrive around the same time as Limhi's people. Maybe Limhi’s people were inspired to wait to get baptized for some unknown reason until Alma arrived. I don't know. And I don't know that I will ever will know the answer to this question in this life. But it doesn't matter.

After all this I remembered the talk: Come, Join with Us by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf where he says, 

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters—my dear friends—please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Having questions about things is good. It shows that we are thinking and trying to learn. But if we allow our doubts to overcome what we already know to be true then we have been fooled by satan.  He is the master of deceit.  He convinced one third of Heavenly Father’s children to doubt what they knew to be true and to rebel and follow him.  Satan is still trying to do the same things to us. (see D&C 29:36-39) Before we came to earth, we were successful in withstanding his lies and we need to do the same now.   We just need to remember what we already to know to be true and hold to that truth.  Even while stepping into the unknown.

Climate Change

In the past few years, there has been a lot of debates and arguments over climate change.  There seems to be only two sides and both sides seem to be yelling at the top of their lungs about how they are right and the other side is wrong. 

On the left side are the liberals who say we humans are single handily destroying the world and they seem to have a view that we should worship the environment and put the environment over the needs of man.

On the right side are the conservatives who deny that climate change is happening and that we can do everything and anything that we want to the environment because it does not matter. They feel we can abuse and use it up for our profit and to get gain. They think the liberals have made up the idea of climate change to get power and gain control of the country.

I am here to say that both viewpoints are wrong.  Both views do not acknowledge God’s hand in the world. God created this world for our use and benefit.

D&C59:16-21

16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;

 17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;

 18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;

 19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

 20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.

 21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.

God knew what He was doing when He created the earth. He did not mess up and not realize how we would use the earth’s natural resources.  He did not miscalculate nor forgot how many of his children are coming to this earth.  Heavenly Father is a God of order.  He planned out the course of this earth.  He knows what needs to be done and how it will happen to bring about His work. 

  D&C 104:17 For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.

Scientists say that the result of the climate change is going to be more extreme weather.  Below are some of the impacts that are currently visible throughout the U.S. and will continue to affect these regions, according to the Third National Climate Assessment Report , released by the U.S. Global Change Research Program:

Northeast. Heat waves, heavy downpours, and sea level rise pose growing challenges to many aspects of life in the Northeast. Infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, and ecosystems will be increasingly compromised. Many states and cities are beginning to incorporate climate change into their planning.

Northwest. Changes in the timing of stream flow reduce water supplies for competing demands. Sea level rise, erosion, inundation, risks to infrastructure, and increasing ocean acidity pose major threats. Increasing wildfire, insect outbreaks, and tree diseases are causing widespread tree die-off.

Southeast. Sea level rise poses widespread and continuing threats to the region’s economy and environment. Extreme heat will affect health, energy, agriculture, and more. Decreased water availability will have economic and environmental impacts.

Midwest. Extreme heat, heavy downpours, and flooding will affect infrastructure, health, agriculture, forestry, transportation, air and water quality, and more. Climate change will also exacerbate a range of risks to the Great Lakes.

Southwest. Increased heat, drought, and insect outbreaks, all linked to climate change, have increased wildfires. Declining water supplies, reduced agricultural yields, health impacts in cities due to heat, and flooding and erosion in coastal areas are additional concerns. 

I know that God created this world for us to live on and to use. As a perfect and infallible Being, He is in control here. I believe that there is climate change happening.  But it is not because man is knowingly or unknowingly destroying the environment.  But it is due to God’s will.  We are living in the Later-days.  These are the final days before the Millennium. The fullness of the gospel has been brought to the earth and we are to share it through out the world.  The Doctrine and Covenants tell us what happens after we share the gospel and the world will not listen nor repent:

D&C 88: 88-91

88 And after your testimony cometh wrath and indignation upon the people.

 89 For after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the ground and shall not be able to stand.

 90 And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds.

 91 And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.

And in Isaiah it says the following will happen in the days before Christ’s second coming:

Isaiah29: 6

6 Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

Also, the entire world is going to go through a lot of changes at the start of the Millennium to get back its paradisiacal glory.  The earth is going to go back to the state that it was in at the time of the Garden of Eden.  Here are what two modern prophets had to say about that:

“The great change which shall come when Christ our Savior begins his Millennial reign, is to be a restoration to the conditions which prevailed before the fall of man. The tenth article of faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches us that Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and that the earth will be renewed, or restored, and receive its paradisiacal glory when that day comes.“This new heaven and earth which will come into existence when our Lord comes to reign, is this same earth with its heavens renewed or restored to its primitive condition and beauty. Everything is to be brought back as nearly as it is possible to its position as it was in the beginning. The mountains, we are informed, are to be thrown down, the valleys are to be exalted, and ‘the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided.’” (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Restoration of All Things, 294–95).  

“Having restored the earth to the same glorious state in which it first existed; leveling the mountains, exalting the valleys, smoothing the rough places, making the deserts fruitful, and bringing all the continents and islands together, causing the curse to be taken off, that it shall no longer produce noxious weeds, and thorns, and thistles; the next thing is to regulate and restore the brute creation to their former state of peace and glory, causing all enmity to cease from off the earth. . . .Thus, having cleansed the earth, and glorified it with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea, and having poured out his Spirit upon all flesh, both man and beast becoming perfectly harmless, as they were in the beginning, and feeding on vegetable food only, while nothing is left to hurt or destroy in all the vast creation,” – President John Taylor, The Government of God, pp.114-15

The climate change we are seeing now and the earthquakes and storms mentioned above probably are precursors to the final change that will happen at the beginning of the Millennium.  All of this has been foretold and is apart of God’s plan.

Now I am not saying that we can trash the earth or our actions don't matter. This earth is a gift from God for us to use and like all gifts from God we will be judged on how we use it.

D&C104: 12-15

12 That every man may give an account unto me of the stewardship which is appointed unto him.

 13 For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures.

 14 I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine.

 15 And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.

Bottom Line, We need to acknowledge God’s hand in all things.  This includes any and all changes in the environment.  Anything that man has done or will do has been accounted for in God’s plan for the earth and us.  But we will be held accountable if we knowingly and willingly neglect His gift for us.