Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and abominable church.

And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints of God, and bring them down into captivity.

-thus 1 Nephi 13:8-9

In Joseph Smith’s day the idea of free lance enforcers entrepreneurially and opportunistically attacking dissenters from the world for social  media likes would seem bizarre, but nowadays it makes perfect sense.  In the attention economy, the carefully polished apple they give to teacher is the persecution of the saints.

“They” probably refers to the great and abominable church.  That church seems to be in charge so its odd that they church itself is trying to earn the praise of the world.   What this represents is that no one in really in charge, its just something mutable like “fashion” or “the consensus” and you have to keep scrambling to stay on top.  You never arrive, there is no there there.

But there is another  meaning of “for the praise of the world.”   The second meaning is that you are praising the world.  These are people who are impressed with the power and structure of the world and are angry that someone opposes it or gives it the lie.  They persecute the saints because they feel aggrieved by them.

Say what you will about the modern world, but the invention of the combined theater kid / front-row kid archetype is a world historic achievement.  You’d think these would be opposites.  You’d think the grey-suited organization man would be over there grimly checking his boxes while out the streets the hippy would be cross-legged on the corner strumming his mandolin. But no.  You clearly lack the breadth of vision and iron will of 21st century modernity.  What do we not dare!  Not only will we create this unholy amalgam, we will set it over us.

Is there a vice synthesis from a virtue chart peaking out at us? (more…)

We have done a surprising amount of work on Lehi’s Dream.  Here are the links to enhance your reading this week and next.

Comparing the  Great and Spacious Building and the Emperor’s New Clothes

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It was April 1998 that I sat at dinner next to a future member of the House of Lords. (more…)

I’m getting back to the basics on symbols.  Just asking kindergarten questions like, what does this thing look like?  What does it feel like?  What does it do?  I started with the Book of Revelations.  I’m now applying it to Lehi’s dream.

I had a thought about why clinging to the iron rod is a bad thing.

Here’s the context: two years ago we discussed a puzzle in Lehi’s dream.  Those who *cling* to the iron rod eventually fall away.  Those who *hold on* to it don’t.  Huh.  You guys had some interesting thoughts, particularly Annie and Books.  Nothing definite.  Elder Bednar mentioned the two groups in General Conference but didn’t explain it.

As I sing “Let Us All Press On,” I often think of the people in Lehi’s vision pressing forward on the path that led to the tree of life who were not merely “clinging to” but were “continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.”

So two days ago I was thinking about iron rods.

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Is the hidden-in-plain-sight esoteric meaning of the Word of Wisdom that we should embrace conspiracy theories and health fads?

he said puckishly while ducking and running for cover.

—

There probably is value in taking seriously those parts of the Word of Wisdom.  Maybe some day.

What are your favorite approaches, aids, and resources for studying the Book of Mormon?

Prior story.

When they opened the midnight gate, all the travelers and all the town rushed in, bringing with them all their foods and decorations and presents.

The Tree Son was beside himself with joy. It was his familiar winter land, but changed. The Tree Father was there with a jolly laugh, handing out presents for all.

When they passed through the gate, the dumb animals—the donkey, the monkey, and the turkey cock—first were able to speak and then transformed into men. (more…)

Every year a little bit happier and therefore, every year, a little bit sadder.  Thanks, friends.

After many vicissitudes, the Tree Son and the Starwife are united, and they all frolic with the Godchild on Christmas day.

They then have the adventure of the pheasant and the fruit, aided by their children.

They then have the adventures in cloud land of the donkey, the monkey, and the turkey cock, aided by their children.

They then descend from the clouds to an autumn land.

They were in a beautiful land. The air was crisp and clear. The leaves were red and yellow and orange; they shone when the sun filtered through them. The grass was still green. The fruit hung heavy on the trees and fell heavy onto the ground There were meadows where fat elk and fatter cattle grazed, and under the trees where fruit dropped, and even though there was no sign of any folk, there were fields with corn stacked in shocks and pumpkins growing orange. The donkey, the monkey, and the turkey cock immediately ran around prancing and skipping and generally making fools of themselves. It became a general frolic and then a dry wood fire and then hot coals and when the sun lowered in the west a feast with meat and nuts and fruit and corn and all manner of good things.

The next day they also lazed and played games, jumping into and over great piles of leaves. The babies still clinging to the Tree Son and the Starwife squealed whenever the parent sprung into the air. That afternoon while the Tree Son studied the trees and their ways and the Starwife contemplated the light and the leaves filtering down from the canopy, several of the children went exploring.

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Joseph Smith said that the book of Revelations is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written.

Now, me and Brother Joseph are alike as two peas in a pod. Practically twins. But in finding the Book of Revelations easy going, Joseph has one up on me.

That’s what I normally would say anyhow. But after a recent Sunday School discussion I realized the core message is plain and obvious. So much so that we all already know it, which is why we get absorbed in figuring out which 1940s battle tank is represented by which candlestick, etc. (more…)

Father: And what do you want for this new year?

Girl:  I want to be fancy!

Father:  Fancy!  Like Fancy Nancy.

Boy:  That’s so stupid.

Father:  And what do you want?

Boy:  I want to be king of the world.

Father:  What would you do if you were king of the world?

Boy:  I’d have a whole house full of toy soldiers and nobody could ever tell me to put them away!

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1.  Curses on anyone who doesn’t read and comment on the JG.
2. Curses on anyone who doesn’t curse anyone who doesn’t read and comment on the JG.
3. Curses on anyone who doesn’t light a candle and stay up all night cursing anyone who doesn’t read and comment on the JG.
4. Provide amusing quality LDS content.

Three out of four ain’t bad.

A Toast to the Ladies of Deseret

Early swarms, full hives,

That’s the way the Kingdom thrives

-W.W. Phelps

You would have loved your exclusive JG Giftmas ™ this year.  We had a handcrafted Christmas message full of cheer.  Very endearing!  Produced by fair wage diverse indigenous artisans and certified conflict-zone free.  The cost to you would have been minimal due to generous green energy subsidies investments provided by the administration, since the message was carbon neutral.  You would have loved the spontaneous encomiums to the Biden economy our artisans inserted at the end.

Unfortunately, our message shipment is stuck on a cargo vessel in the Red Sea, stranded for fear of Houthi missiles.

So instead we offer you this authentic 16th century carol.

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