Jesus & Zion Were Rejected for the Same Reason

The Jews repudiated Jesus for the same reasons Mormons reject Zion.

The Jews didn’t think Jesus was their Savior because they were expecting someone different. Mormons don’t think Zion can happen now and reject the Lord’s counsel to do so because they are expecting something different. Both are the result of a misunderstanding of Zion and Christ’s simplistic and liberating natures.

The Jews knew the prophecies of a savior being born that would free them both spiritually and politically. When Jesus came, they heard His message and were like, “This guy is a nut-job! We are looking for a great political-military-kingly ruler to save us!” They expected and wanted someone like Captain Moroni.

Jesus came and lived His simple message. But they didn’t understand or want to accept His way. It was some homeless guy rejecting their teachings and hanging around the lepers, prostitutes and others rejected by society. It just wasn’t in the manner or style Israel anticipated or wanted.

How can we apply this to the Church today? Let’s compare it to how we expect Jesus’ second coming to be. What we “the Mormons,” are expecting sounds like this…Christ will receive the righteous with open arms and join Him as he descends. Who are the righteous? We don’t necessarily say it, but we show it. Those that are financially stable, successful, have moved up in the world and have a clean look. I say those are the indicators because in the nearly all cases, those are the ones who are called to positions of leadership. Many also look at the Church’s righteousness by it’s organization, it’s unity, members conformity, the structure of it’s businesses and buildings. It is all slag.

Well let’s see if we get Christ’s message. The following is a montage similar to Zomarah’s, hopefully he takes it as a compliment and not as a rip off 🙂

What is stopping us from being Zion and building that city again? The responsibility lies in each of us individually. But where are we going individually? Most are following the LDS President. So where is he going? Keep reading.

What is the relationship of modern apostles with heads of government as compared to their predecessors? These are after all the men that many expect to lead the way to Zion.

Perhaps it is not an appropriate example to compare Jesus to a prophet or an apostle. Let’s see if they are on the side of Babylon or Zion. That will indicate where they are leading the church.

Basta.

What is the difference? Leather recliners, business suits, beards, the reason for the meeting and their relationships. Like I spoke of in the last post, relationships are the key to everything. What is the relationship between Paul and King Aggripa? Paul comes in shackles before the King. He preaches his conversion and is a special witness of the resurrected Lord! Paul uses the gifts of the Spirit to call Agrippa out. What is Gordon’s relationship with President Bush? They seem pretty comfortable. Ya know, chillaxin (I don’t like that word). He didn’t get to that point in the same way Ammon did with King Lamoni.

Well, what do you think? Be honest…not just to me, but to yourself as well.

Is the President of the LDS Church fleeing Babylon? No! He and his predecessors for a while have been a part of Babylon. Like ancient Jerusalem that eventually was more wicked than Sodom. Look it up.

Like Israel who rejected Jesus, we have fallen in the same ways. Like Noah says on his blog Finding Mormonism, “The emperor isn’t wearing any clothes. Enough of us just need to say so.”

After I spoke with a friend recently, something essential hit me. Mormons are really nice people. I love them. Many friends are Mormon. I am Mormon. That is why it is so hard to believe that these are the same people who are under condemnation. The same great individuals who are actively pursuing Babylon. Laman and Lemuel had the same problem.

1 Nephi 17 22 And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people;

That’s why this is so hard to accept that we are in Babylon.

I used to be into politics, big time. Anyone who knows me has had to deal with all the discussions they’ve had with me…most of all my wife. I no longer care for politics. Something has changed within me recently. My heart and desires are not what they were. I think about the time spent by Mormons on political stuff and think how much good would be done if it was all focused on Zion instead. Some probably think as I did, even a few weeks ago, that we have to be involved and work with governments, especially the US government, since Zion is in the USA. But God has lead His people many times into and through other nations. God showed people their inheritance and they had the faith to follow Him and stick a Spiritual middle finger at the nations around them. Well that might be a little crude, it actually was a sword.

Most Mormons don’t want to be associated with others who desire anarchy. So what? Who cares what anyone else but God thinks? Well what about sending missionaries into other nations. Don’t we have to be politically active and get on good terms with the governments, to let our missionaries in their nations so the gospel can be preached to all people in all lands as prophesied? Why does anyone need permission from men? God told us to do it, we need to do it.

We read about Alma and Ammon and his bros and what they did going into Lamanite lands. That’s like going into the heart of Saudi Arabia and Iran to preach. We look at Ammon as rad and righteous. Well that’s what we’d say about anyone who goes to such nations. Either that or people would hide behind their own fears and say he was a fool.

If you are waiting for The Church® to leave Babylon and head to Zion, it will be like the parable of the ten virgins. That is why that parable was given.  It will be too late by the time the full leadership of the Church decides to leave Babylon. Thus saith the Lord. This is truth, so hear it.There will be many casualties both spiritually and physically. There will be cries but it will be too late. Only those that flee and are in Zion will be safe from the spiritual and physical wars, in the short time before the Savior returns.

Where are the brethren leading us? Below is a plan for the City Creek Center and the empty temple lot in Independence.

The most important temple of all has not been built. Yet vast efforts and resources and sacred funds have been used to build Babylonian enterprises even though we have Ezekiel’s words, “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” Nothing exemplifies this more than a mall. People go their to stroke and feed their pride, eat the fullness of bread, idle away hours and for those that have the money, buying “manner of dress was exceedingly fine,” the opposite of strengthening the poor and needy.

After a while the gentiles will gather to this place by the thousands and Salt Lake will be classified among the wicked cities of the world. A spirit of speculation and extravagance will take possession of the saints, and the result will be financial bondage. Heber Kimball

Leads the nation in bankruptcy year after year. Every ponzy scheme known to man is there. I’ve been dragged to the meetings. The car dealerships and the brand new homes being built everywhere. Every little new neighborhood comes with a cute little shopping center. We saw that on our trip down there this summer. Then we compared it to Godless Atheist Seattle area and noticed that newly built neighborhoods are lucky to get a gas station. It is obvious why it is hard for Mormons to accept Zion.

By the way, Ezekiel probably wrote those words between 593 and 571 BC. Around the time that Lehi left Jerusalem. It is now our time to get out. Lehi and his family and others left only a few years before Jerusalem was destroyed. Mulek left a few years after Lehi. It is believed that Mulek means little king and that his father was the King Zedekiah. Who when the city was conquered was put in shackles and had his eyes put out. It was a fitting symbolism of the shackles he had spiritually and the blindness of his leadership. Don’t be caught in that same fate.

Does the City Creek’s multi-million dollar condos strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. No more of that foolish teaching that the money earned from the center will be used to help the needy. Can you say that with any reliable information? No. Even more, what did Brigham Young warn us?

If you ask them if they are ready to build up the kingdom of God, their answer is prompt–”Why, to be sure we are, with our whole souls; but we want first to get so much gold, speculate and get rich, and then we can help the Church considerably. We will go to California and get gold, go and buy goods and get rich, trade with the emigrants, build a mill, make a farm, get a large herd of cattle, and then we can do a great deal for Israel.” When will you be ready to do it? “In a few years, brother Brigham, if you do not disturb us. We do not believe in the necessity of doing military duty, in giving over our surplus property for tithing; we never could see into it; but we want to go and get rich, to accumulate and amass wealth, by securing all the land adjoining us, and all we have a knowledge of.” If that is not the spirit of this people, then I do not know what the truth is concerning the matter. –Brigham Young

He saw that occurring among the members over a century ago. Now the current LDS leadership teach and live it.

In vision of our day, the Lord has called us to leave the Babylon we are happily a part of. Going to hell with a grin on our face.

 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.(Revelation 18:4,5)

The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple. (Jeremiah 50:28)

We would have healed Babylon, But she is not healed. Forsake her, and let us go everyone to his own country; For her judgment reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies. The Lord has revealed our righteousness. Come and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God.(Jeremiah 51:9,10)

My people, go out of the midst of her! And let everyone deliver himself from the fierce anger of the Lord.(Jeremiah 51:45)

Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. (Zechariah 2:7)

Ya, that is a lot, and I repeat what Alma said, “And now, my brethren, I would that, after ye have recieved so many witnesses, seeing that the holy scriptures testify of these things, ye come forth and bring fruit unto repentance.” (Alma 34:30)

The Church needs to repent. The leaders need to repent. The members and first presidency and members of the quorum of the twelve need to stop worrying about Babylon and focus on Zion. The Church needs to turn away from Babylon and Sodom and come unto Zion physically and spiritually. Those that do not, will reap the consequences which will be the same suffered by Israel many times throughout history. Follow the Christ. Listen to Him. He speaks and few are listening to all that He says. There is hope though. The atonement has power and we can change. He has changed me. It will not last unless I move on with it. Christ can change our desires if we allow Him. That is the only way to come unto Him. It will never be through following commandments because they are commandments or because any man has said it. The only way is to change our hearts and allow the freedom of Zion to to work in us and follow those desires. That is the way.

“There is only one way to happiness and fulfillment. Jesus Christ is the Way. Every other way, any other way, whatever other way is foolishness.” –Lawrence Corbridge