This last weekend was very busy and very fun. Friday and Saturday night Julia and I went to Anarchrocon, which is a local celebration of the past and all things Steampunk. We got Julia a corset and she seems to like it a lot...except for the slight problem with you know...breathing. However after talking with my friend Ace it seems there are some tricks to wearing one, so it might not have been a waste of money after all. More importantly, we finally found Julia a 'tiny hat' which I have been looking for her for the better part of a year. She likes the one we finally found. It is bright red with little red wire things on it. Hopefully we can put up a picture of it on facebook at some point in the immediate future. We got to see some awesome music and concerts, though the best was by an artist named Edwina who is only 16 but sounds like she has a lifetime worth of pain and skill in her voice. That girl is going places, but she was performing in the front hall and no one could hear her unless paying attention. She was also pointed out to us by Ace. One of the more interesting panels involved Dracula which was in part moderated by Anya. Anya also took a look at Billy's First Bolt Gun and offered some excellent advice on tweaking the ending...but it looks to see the light of day some time in the near future. The Costumes, as always, were awesome. Since Anachrocon was our second date, I think Julia and I agree that it has largely become 'our' con. :D
Wedding preparations are going well. We have officially set the date on July 20th, and formal documentation should be sent shortly. Honeymoon plans are in the islands of the West and should be quite awesome. We're greatly looking forward to it. :D My projects are going well, but nothing earth shattering. Julia has now obtained the dress, though she has thus far resisted all the good natured efforts I've made to trick her into letting me see it.
Earlier in the month we went to Dracula the Ballet. It was gorgeous! I am only a nominal ballet fan, but I will readily acknowledge talent when I see it, and they had it in spaces. We both had a great time and I'm glad we got the season tickets to the ballet. We got a very good deal on it, and a few monthly payments last fall are reaping their dividends now.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Return To The Booth Museum
I last went here when I was desperately seeking distraction and an attempt to find inspiration of some kind, and completely got it in the form of a gift wrapped bundle of awesomeness that is the current format for my fifth novel Forever West. So when I rather ...ditzily...forgot to get the hotel rooms in advance for Miami and they were going to cost us something like $700 for the entire weekend trip we took, we had to cancel, but I had promised Julia a weekend trip. So I remembered that we had talked about going to the Booth museum for quite some time. Julia had been before, but not for 8 years.
We got a room for a very cheap price at a nice little 'microtel' not more than 10 minutes from the Booth museum. It was very new, and immaculate but it reminded us a bit of a dorm room. We spent some of that weekend doing homework (Julia) and working on the Fulton County Arts grant for Mythic (Myself). However we also went to the Booth Museum. It is a world class museum and both of have seen some rather impressive ones. The art was fantastic and it was definitely excellent creative fuel for the second half of the novel that I'm starting again in March. In addition to the traditional western art that you might expect, they also had modern art and an extensive collection of art from the 'mythic' west including posters from a number of movies. The sculptures were easily one of the most impressive elements.
Later that night, we found out some friends of ours not only worked in Cartersville, but lived there too. Holly and Adam were sick but Terrence took us out to a lovely dinner at the Appalacean Grill. It was a fascinating conversation and many topics were covered including dating, politics, economics, entertainment and literature. We had to skip the Telles Museum because we stayed up late watching the last two episodes of Homeland Season 1 (which is fantastic.)
On the way back we picked up a bottle of wine for Julia's family's super bowl party. It was called "Sebastini" and therefore we had to get it. (Julia's dog is called Sebastian.) I also picked up a pair of sunglasses and acted like a warped combination of Rebel Without A Clue and Wolfman Jack. I left the tags on and kept talking about how all the cool kids wore sunglasses like that. Julia put up with this for about 20 minutes and then patiently took glasses off, and without a word, removed the tag. After laughing for 3 minutes solid, I smiled put the glasses in the glove compartment and we resumed our trip.
Good trip :D
Thursday, January 31, 2013
First Month of the Year of the Kane Eagle
It's been a busy month.
Last week Julia and I went to visit the family in Houston. It was a long drive there, and leaving at midnight probably wasn't the brightest of ideas. Julia fortunately had a plane ticket back, but it took me over SIXTEEN HOURS to get back thanks to traffic...the longest it has ever taken me on the trip to houston. I think it will be flying from now on despite the cost. Friday night we went to Christy and Jon's reception. Nice to meet him and for Julia to be able to meet most of the family. The meal was fantastic too. Most of Saturday we spent with Randy's family and Mom watching movies which was quite fun. We all got to know each other.
Earlier this month, on the final day it was open, Julia's parents took us to the Botanical Gardens. It was a veritable wonderland of various lights wrapped around plants. It's hard to describe if you're not there, but some of the more interesting things included coreographed giant pearl lights that turned different colors based on the music and the tone of the music that was playing, as well as a brilliant green 'laser show' inside of the hot house which was mostly dark and quite surreal, as well as lofty trees with blooming 'light flowers' on them. Afterwards, we went to Antico pizza which has all of its ingredients flown in from italy and was FANTASTIC.
We've taken it easy a lot of the month due to my two week forced vacation; so we've been watching movies a lot including the rather incredible series 'Homeland' which is quite good. Febuary should be a bit more interesting. Wedding plans are progressing well and we hope to send out invitations on the second week of Febuary.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Goals 2013
Goals 2013
Tracking Goal: Track status of all goals on a weekly, monthly or quartly basis in Evernote.
Physical
Primary: Get to 250lbs by July 20th. [Weekly]
Secondary: Go to 60 Yoga Classes. [Weekly]
Mental
Primary: Read the following 6 books: [Quarterly]
Philosophy in the Tragic Age of the Greeks by Friedrich Nietzsche
Religion within the Limits of Reason Alone by Immanuel Kant
Early Mormonism and the Magic World View D. Michael Quinn
The Complete Works of Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
[Not yet determined. Will decide by July 2013]
Secondary: Learn 48 French phrases. [Monthly]
Emotional
Primary: Abstain from Paranoia. [Quarterly.]
Secondary: Continue optimism. [Quarterly.]
Spiritual
Primary: Write one poem a month in soul forging. [Monthly]
Social
Primary: Take Julia dancing 12 times in 2013. [Monthly]
Secondary: Hang out with friends at least once a week. [Weekly.]
First Life: Retired.
Second Life
Primary Goal: Finish Forever West by the end of the year. [Quarterly]
Secondary Goal: Write Tossing Grenades at Windmills in National Novel Writing Month. [Quarterly]
Third Life
Primary Goal: Operation RUR schedued for production in an actual physical location charging money for admitance at least once by the end of 2013.
Secondary Goal: Film Project Chaylite in 2013 or another short film.
Fourth Life
Primary Goal: Initiate Project Horribly Inappropriate and remake yearly investment budget in RAA. [Monthly]
Secondary Goal: Project Red Attack Tagging viable for its intended goal.
Fifth Life
Primary Goal: Project Chysalis II. [Monthly]
Secondary Goal: Decide and Enact the Year of the Kane Eagle. [Monthly]
Sixth Life
Primary Goal: Write in Eagle as Phoenix Once a Week. [Monthly]
Secondary Goal: Operation Evict Reed.
Incidentals
Earn my PMP. [Quarterly]
Write the script for Earth and Sea and Star and Sky. [Quarterly]
Write the League of Christmas Darkness Dodecaology. [Monthly]
Reach the half way mark in the Egress fund. [Quarterly]
Somehow make the Mosaic Inglemia campaign idea work. [Quarterly]
Julia's Goals
1. Get straight A's in her classes toward her MLA degree. [By Semester]
2. Lose 10lbs by July 20, 2013. [Quarterly]
3. Stay physically afterwards and maintain that. [Quartly]
4. Obtain a full time job. [Monthly]
Marriage Goals
1. Remain patient and communicative in our relationship. [Biannually]
2. Datenight at least once a week. [Monthly]
3. Successfully complete and ENJOY the wedding. [Once]
4. Decide Starter City. [Quarterly]
Life Goals - "At some point"
1. See the Louvre.
**2015-2016.
2. Travel around the world on a one way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.
** Goal to see all by 2017. Egypt pending political situation.
3. Learn a martial art.
**Done
5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.
6. Start a successful business.
Started in 2011. "Success" is determined in this case by an operating profit of 400% invested capital or $10000. 2011-2015. Otherwise 'failure' and goal removed from dock.
7. Learn a musical instrument.
Slated 2014
8. Sculpt something memorable.
9. Create or help create a graphic novel.
**Completed. [And also permanently dead :( ]
10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.
11. Write seven novels.
**4 of 7 done. 5th slated for 2013
13. Go on a cruise.
2014.
14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING. [Small chance of 2014]
16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)
17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)
Slated 2017-2018.
18. Have a room with a secret passage
Slated 2017-2018.
23. Be in a flash mob dance number.
Do in 2013 unless an opportunity comes before hand.
26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)
Doing.
27. Ditto the sixth.
Started 2012. Likely perpetual but since goals must be achievable, transform this to a tangible in 2012 Mid goal check.
28. Ditto the seventh.
**Kept in reserve until 2027.
47. Finish 7 films. (3 out of 7 completed).
2013.
48. Enter a remote controlled airplane tournament and place in the upper half.
49. Enter a competitive Kite contest (the kind with the razors on the wings.)
50. Blow something up with Dynamite. (Legally)
51. Join the Masons.
2014. Maybe.
52. Hypnotize someone.
2013-2014.
53. Firewalk.
54. Visit the Library of Congess
55. Complete 7 Projects of Significance. [0 of 7 done.] First slated for 2013.
If the right door opens....(ie interesting goals that either depend on another person or a significant amount of wealth that may never happen but that I want to write down)
29. Marry the Right Person. [2013]
30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation.
31. Visit (but do not live in) Space.
32. Buy my own island.
35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent.
36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.
38. "" Neurological regeneration.
39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.
40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.
43. Breed dogs to live twice as long
**Strangely some people are surprisingly responsive to this. This might move to more realistic within 3-4 years when/if I own a house.
44. Create 3 patents.
45. Own and that is entirely self-sufficient w. energy, food and other items.
46. Become a Father.
Bucket List (the Bucket in the Bucket….IE, I no longer care about this but might change my mind.)
4. Competitively enter a fencing competition.
Friday, October 26, 2007
April 26, 2007 - The Day my Spirit Died
Spiritual Death is defined by the LDS church as separation from God the Eternal Father, and is considerably worse than physical death which is overcome by a universal resurrection achieved by the atonement of Jesus Christ.
In the LDS faith, Spiritual Death is basically achieved by not being Mormon. One can go to a variety of heaven, but one cannot return and dwell in the presence of the father. Furthermore, to the degree one publicly opposes the LDS church, one condemns one's self to spiritual death. Thus, one can understand the proper context of the quote by Joseph Smith that says, "When you join the Church of Jesus Christ, you leave neutral ground forever behind."
What a remarkably convenient way of neutralizing people that leave the church and then condemn it.
So I am going to play their game, and yet not play it.
On October 26th, 2007, My wife and I formally left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Dictionary.com defines church as "church /tʃɜrtʃ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[church] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. a building for public Christian worship.
2. public worship of God or a religious service in such a building: to attend church regularly.
3. (sometimes initial capital letter) the whole body of Christian believers; Christendom.
4. (sometimes initial capital letter) any division of this body professing the same creed and acknowledging the same ecclesiastical authority; a Christian denomination: the Methodist Church.
5. that part of the whole Christian body, or of a particular denomination, belonging to the same city, country, nation, etc.
6. a body of Christians worshipping in a particular building or constituting one congregation: She is a member of this church.
7. ecclesiastical organization, power, and affairs, as distinguished from the state: separation of church and state; The missionary went wherever the church sent him.
8. the clergy and religious officials of a Christian denomination.
9. the Christian faith: a return of intellectuals to the church.
10. (initial capital letter) the Christian Church before the Reformation.
11. (initial capital letter) the Roman Catholic Church.
12. the clerical profession or calling: After much study and contemplation, he was prepared to enter the church.
13. a place of public worship of a non-Christian religion.
14. any non-Christian religious society, organization, or congregation: the Jewish church."
Wow. That's a lot of meanings, but the point is that the word church can mean a lot of things. The LDS theocracy will define church as "What we say it is", but since I am no longer interested in their opinions, let me state that I am defining church in this case as "The theological doctrines taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as they should be practiced, not as they are practiced." I am not going to attack the church as it is supposed to exist on paper; I AM going to mention my reasons for leaving the LDS Church and my utter contempt for those who run it.
Having established these very narrow parameters, let me now state my primary reason for leaving.
Here is a scripture that states for me the basic tenets of anyone baptized into the LDS church. It is the oath they take and the covenant that they make upon accepting babtism.
"8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?" - Mosiah 18: 8-10 (From the Book of Mormon)
The part of that scripture that applies here is, "Stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and all places that ye may be in."
Thus it is that I write here as a witness on December 13, 2007 with all of the spiritual surity that I possess, and the knowledge that Jesus Christ is my savior that Gordon B. Hinkley, Thomas S. Monson, and James E. Faust are sniveling weasel crotch lickers who have deliberately enabled evil for their own personal political agenda; and that as a result of personal prayer and research, I also testify that virtually all of those who have held the title of Apostle in the entire history of the church are also sniveling weasel crotch lickers.
Fact #1: Dick Cheney is an evil man.
Fact #2: The LDS Prophet is revered throughout the LDS community and from a young age we are taught to emulate his every action.
These are facts. I am not going to argue about them here. For Fact #1, see the rest of my blog entries, and for Fact #2 open any lesson manual of any kind in any LDS meeting house in the entire world. There, in dozens of different languages, you will find language saying that while yes, the Prophet is a man, we are to pay attention to his words AS IF THEY COME FROM THE LORD HIMSELF, AND THAT HE DOES NOT NEED TO SAY 'THUS SAYETH THE LORD' FOR THEM TO BE CONSIDERED AS BINDING AS SCRIPTURE.
There is a heirarchy of LDS revelation and the purity thereof. Anything with the full authorization of the First Presidency (current living) and the Quorum of the Twelve is at the top of that list, but every little thing is still condemnation against you if you do not abide by it.
On April 26th, 2007 Dick Cheney spoke by invitation at the BYU commencement. All three members of the first presidency were in attendance.
The shock of this act forced me to begin researching the church's past, primarily in the books "Under the Banner of Heaven" by Jon Krakau and "The Mormon Heirarchy" by D. Michael Quinn. The latter book is a secular history of the leadership of the LDS church told by someone excommunicated, and yet who still believes. The source material on this book is as thick as its material and the sources are all publicly available and not easily disputed.
Understand, that April 26th, 2007 was not the reason I left the church. It was merely when other sources outside of the church became more believable than LDS sources. Gordon B. Hinkley has given talks about the need, "to focus on the positive and not focus on the negative aspects of an instutition." This only goes so far.
Ignoring minor errors would be one thing.
But some things cannot be ignored, including:
1)Joseph Smith destroyed the Navoo Expositor for publicly stating that he was having sex with other men's wives.
The LDS church denies this, but after April 26, 2007, I believe other people before I believe the LDS church.
2)Henry D. Moyle publicly encouraged and created Baseball Babtisms in which young children were encouraged to join the church and be babtized 'so they could be part of an athletic club.' Not rogue missionaries, not insane bishops obsessed with numbers, but a member of the first presidency.
The church will deny this, but after April 26, 2007, I believe other people before I believe the LDS church.
3)Joseph Smith taught that the office of Presiding Patriarch was central to the spiritual well being of the church. He also taught without the office of Presiding Patriarch, dire spiritual consequences would befall the church. Joseph F. Smith was the last president to treat this office with respect. Others phased it out because they were jealous of its power. Modern day LDS leaders say the office is now unnecessary. The last major spiritual scripture added was a vision received by Joseph F. Smith. Modern prophets do not talk about visions or other unearthly things.
The church will deny this, and say that I am taking things out of context, but after April 26, 2007, I believe other people before I believe the LDS church.
4) Those pioneers we're always honoring? They formed conspiracy after conspiracy. The early history of the church is rife with murder, political intruige and sabotage, secret combinations which are warned against in the Book of Mormon.
Including my name sake, Thomas E. Ricks.
The church will deny this, and say that I am taking things out of context, but after April 26, 2007, I believe other people before I believe the LDS church.
5) Gordon B. Hinkley personally led the effort to destroy the ERA. But not just the ERA, but ALL issues being discussed advocating the rights of women being discussed in the feminist groups that they destroyed.
The church will deny this, and say that I am taking things out of context, but after April 26, 2007, I believe other people before I believe the LDS church.
6) Ezra Taft Benson was closely tied to the John Birch society, which was the close political ally and patron of Senator Joseph McCarthy, a figure who I despite with loathing that even exceeds my distate for Andrew "Hickory" Jackson, the genocidal maniac. Ezra Taft Benson was often in outright REBELLION against the other leaders of quorum, but WAS NOT EXCOMMUNICATED. In his later years, he 'was moderate' but he did not apologize for his associations with people who thought McCarthy was a great guy either.
These are the people who are fueling Ann Coulter, who is a McCarthy apologist. This is the leader of the LDS church.
The church will deny this, and say that I am taking things out of context, but after April 26, 2007, I believe other people before I believe the LDS church.
There are more but these are the big ones.
I am never going to discuss this with a mormon. I am never going to argue with them about it. I had a testimony. I know that this is not a question of rational argument. Spiritual truths do not come from intellectual treatise. I had an argument with a friend of mine who is a member of the church. In that discussion he said, "If 99% of that book is true, if even 1% of it is false then it is a lie and cannot be relied upon."
Which I immediately turned around and said, "If 99% of what the church says is true, if even 1% of it is false, then it is a lie and cannot be relied upon."
Furthermore, to which of the two shall we hold the higher standard? The academic treatise and history by a mortal man, or the Kingdom of God on Earth, with Sentinels against the darkness appointed by power, priesthood and prophesy? Sure the Prophet is supposed to be merely a man, but at the same time he possesses all the keys of the kingdom, all of the spiritual gifts of god, and acts as a prophet, seer and revelator. A Seer is an office in which the holder bearsa seer stone, in which all things past, present and future pertaining to the mysteries of God are revealed before them.
Furthermore, Joseph Smith himself taught, "And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie." Ether 3:12. And furthermore,
"46 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that whatsoever you seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever you bind on earth, in my name and by my word, saith the Lord, it shall be eternally bound in the heavens; and whosesoever sins you remit on earth shall be remitted eternally in the heavens; and whosesoever sins you retain on earth shall be retained in heaven.
47 And again, verily I say, whomsoever you bless I will bless, and whomsoever you curse I will curse, saith the Lord; for I, the Lord, am thy God." Doctrine and Covenants 132: 45-46.
Finally, THIS scripture I believe sums it all up nicely:
"11 Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after those wicked harlots. Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words."
Alma 39: 11, in which the prophet Alma condemns his son for his wickedness which caused others to lose their faith in the word being taught by the other prophets.
On April 26th, 2007 Gordon B. Hinkley cavorted with demons, and was not struck dead by God for it. Thus, the inevitable conclusion is that he is not a prophet, but a tool of the Adversary. There is no 'middle ground' in LDS theology. I KNOW Dick Cheney is evil, so therefore those who honor him, those who shower him with honorary degrees, CANNOT be the wardens and servants of God.
But even then, even then I still prayed. I wanted to be sure. So for six months I waited and prayed patiently with my wife. And the Lord confirmed to me that Hinkley is not a prophet. I still feel the spirit of Christ. I still believe in him, but I do not believe that Gordon B. Hinkley or any other leader of the current Church of Jesus Christ has ever been authorized to act as an arbiter of God's will on Earth.
And even, somehow, if I were wrong in that belief, they lost it the moment they honored the genocidal war criminal.
And since an LDS testimony is one given by emotions and spiritual insight rather than rational well thought out beliefs based on empirical and verifiable evidence, let me give another testimony based on spiritual insights, not from proof but from Truths given me by God, to the extent that my god given intuition and rationality can provide those insights.
I testify that Mitt Romney is part of a hidden order within the LDS church destined by a hidden prophesy that one of their number will become president, hence why the father and now the son has tried this, and I believe the son and his son and his son after him will try until they succeed.
I testify that it is because of this secret order that Gordon B. Hinkley and the other leaders of the LDS church have set aside common decency, and 'in the greater good' made a deal with Dick Cheney to honor him at BYU in return for the secret support of George H.W. Bush in the 2008 Presidential election.
I testify that is NO ACCIDENT that the 'mormon speech' that Mitt Romney gave last week was in College Station Texas, home of Texas A&M and also home of the George H.W. Bush presidential library.
I testify that it is no accident that Jeb Bush supports Mitt Romney, and that the Lord was severely displeased by Jeb's actions regarding Terry Shiavo. I further testify that so displeased was the lord by these actions that he condemns Jeb Bush and the entire Bush family unto the fourth generation lest they repent and condemn the actions of the unrighteous father. I further testify that these sins and that this curse is associated and extended to any advocated by Jeb Bush who doth not turn around and condemn the weasel crotch licker for the animal thing that he is instead of accepting Jeb's praise.
I testify that George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Donald Rumsfeld, Condeleza Rice, and anyone in the Project For the American Century will be answerable both to God and an an earthly tribunal and that I believe that tribunal will be the International Criminal Court (which they all condemned) and that they will all be tried as war criminals; not for their conduct in Afghanistan, but for the advocation and tolerance of torture and other war crimes in the country of Iraq.
I further testify that if Mitt Romney is elected President of the United States of America, a curse shall come upon this nation so dark and so black that none, not even the republican minority that refuses to acknowledge the sins of their leaders shall fail to see the Hand of God at work.
I say this in the Name of Jesus Christ, my lord and savior.
Amen.
In the LDS faith, Spiritual Death is basically achieved by not being Mormon. One can go to a variety of heaven, but one cannot return and dwell in the presence of the father. Furthermore, to the degree one publicly opposes the LDS church, one condemns one's self to spiritual death. Thus, one can understand the proper context of the quote by Joseph Smith that says, "When you join the Church of Jesus Christ, you leave neutral ground forever behind."
What a remarkably convenient way of neutralizing people that leave the church and then condemn it.
So I am going to play their game, and yet not play it.
On October 26th, 2007, My wife and I formally left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Dictionary.com defines church as "church /tʃɜrtʃ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[church] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. a building for public Christian worship.
2. public worship of God or a religious service in such a building: to attend church regularly.
3. (sometimes initial capital letter) the whole body of Christian believers; Christendom.
4. (sometimes initial capital letter) any division of this body professing the same creed and acknowledging the same ecclesiastical authority; a Christian denomination: the Methodist Church.
5. that part of the whole Christian body, or of a particular denomination, belonging to the same city, country, nation, etc.
6. a body of Christians worshipping in a particular building or constituting one congregation: She is a member of this church.
7. ecclesiastical organization, power, and affairs, as distinguished from the state: separation of church and state; The missionary went wherever the church sent him.
8. the clergy and religious officials of a Christian denomination.
9. the Christian faith: a return of intellectuals to the church.
10. (initial capital letter) the Christian Church before the Reformation.
11. (initial capital letter) the Roman Catholic Church.
12. the clerical profession or calling: After much study and contemplation, he was prepared to enter the church.
13. a place of public worship of a non-Christian religion.
14. any non-Christian religious society, organization, or congregation: the Jewish church."
Wow. That's a lot of meanings, but the point is that the word church can mean a lot of things. The LDS theocracy will define church as "What we say it is", but since I am no longer interested in their opinions, let me state that I am defining church in this case as "The theological doctrines taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as they should be practiced, not as they are practiced." I am not going to attack the church as it is supposed to exist on paper; I AM going to mention my reasons for leaving the LDS Church and my utter contempt for those who run it.
Having established these very narrow parameters, let me now state my primary reason for leaving.
Here is a scripture that states for me the basic tenets of anyone baptized into the LDS church. It is the oath they take and the covenant that they make upon accepting babtism.
"8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?" - Mosiah 18: 8-10 (From the Book of Mormon)
The part of that scripture that applies here is, "Stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and all places that ye may be in."
Thus it is that I write here as a witness on December 13, 2007 with all of the spiritual surity that I possess, and the knowledge that Jesus Christ is my savior that Gordon B. Hinkley, Thomas S. Monson, and James E. Faust are sniveling weasel crotch lickers who have deliberately enabled evil for their own personal political agenda; and that as a result of personal prayer and research, I also testify that virtually all of those who have held the title of Apostle in the entire history of the church are also sniveling weasel crotch lickers.
Fact #1: Dick Cheney is an evil man.
Fact #2: The LDS Prophet is revered throughout the LDS community and from a young age we are taught to emulate his every action.
These are facts. I am not going to argue about them here. For Fact #1, see the rest of my blog entries, and for Fact #2 open any lesson manual of any kind in any LDS meeting house in the entire world. There, in dozens of different languages, you will find language saying that while yes, the Prophet is a man, we are to pay attention to his words AS IF THEY COME FROM THE LORD HIMSELF, AND THAT HE DOES NOT NEED TO SAY 'THUS SAYETH THE LORD' FOR THEM TO BE CONSIDERED AS BINDING AS SCRIPTURE.
There is a heirarchy of LDS revelation and the purity thereof. Anything with the full authorization of the First Presidency (current living) and the Quorum of the Twelve is at the top of that list, but every little thing is still condemnation against you if you do not abide by it.
On April 26th, 2007 Dick Cheney spoke by invitation at the BYU commencement. All three members of the first presidency were in attendance.
The shock of this act forced me to begin researching the church's past, primarily in the books "Under the Banner of Heaven" by Jon Krakau and "The Mormon Heirarchy" by D. Michael Quinn. The latter book is a secular history of the leadership of the LDS church told by someone excommunicated, and yet who still believes. The source material on this book is as thick as its material and the sources are all publicly available and not easily disputed.
Understand, that April 26th, 2007 was not the reason I left the church. It was merely when other sources outside of the church became more believable than LDS sources. Gordon B. Hinkley has given talks about the need, "to focus on the positive and not focus on the negative aspects of an instutition." This only goes so far.
Ignoring minor errors would be one thing.
But some things cannot be ignored, including:
1)Joseph Smith destroyed the Navoo Expositor for publicly stating that he was having sex with other men's wives.
The LDS church denies this, but after April 26, 2007, I believe other people before I believe the LDS church.
2)Henry D. Moyle publicly encouraged and created Baseball Babtisms in which young children were encouraged to join the church and be babtized 'so they could be part of an athletic club.' Not rogue missionaries, not insane bishops obsessed with numbers, but a member of the first presidency.
The church will deny this, but after April 26, 2007, I believe other people before I believe the LDS church.
3)Joseph Smith taught that the office of Presiding Patriarch was central to the spiritual well being of the church. He also taught without the office of Presiding Patriarch, dire spiritual consequences would befall the church. Joseph F. Smith was the last president to treat this office with respect. Others phased it out because they were jealous of its power. Modern day LDS leaders say the office is now unnecessary. The last major spiritual scripture added was a vision received by Joseph F. Smith. Modern prophets do not talk about visions or other unearthly things.
The church will deny this, and say that I am taking things out of context, but after April 26, 2007, I believe other people before I believe the LDS church.
4) Those pioneers we're always honoring? They formed conspiracy after conspiracy. The early history of the church is rife with murder, political intruige and sabotage, secret combinations which are warned against in the Book of Mormon.
Including my name sake, Thomas E. Ricks.
The church will deny this, and say that I am taking things out of context, but after April 26, 2007, I believe other people before I believe the LDS church.
5) Gordon B. Hinkley personally led the effort to destroy the ERA. But not just the ERA, but ALL issues being discussed advocating the rights of women being discussed in the feminist groups that they destroyed.
The church will deny this, and say that I am taking things out of context, but after April 26, 2007, I believe other people before I believe the LDS church.
6) Ezra Taft Benson was closely tied to the John Birch society, which was the close political ally and patron of Senator Joseph McCarthy, a figure who I despite with loathing that even exceeds my distate for Andrew "Hickory" Jackson, the genocidal maniac. Ezra Taft Benson was often in outright REBELLION against the other leaders of quorum, but WAS NOT EXCOMMUNICATED. In his later years, he 'was moderate' but he did not apologize for his associations with people who thought McCarthy was a great guy either.
These are the people who are fueling Ann Coulter, who is a McCarthy apologist. This is the leader of the LDS church.
The church will deny this, and say that I am taking things out of context, but after April 26, 2007, I believe other people before I believe the LDS church.
There are more but these are the big ones.
I am never going to discuss this with a mormon. I am never going to argue with them about it. I had a testimony. I know that this is not a question of rational argument. Spiritual truths do not come from intellectual treatise. I had an argument with a friend of mine who is a member of the church. In that discussion he said, "If 99% of that book is true, if even 1% of it is false then it is a lie and cannot be relied upon."
Which I immediately turned around and said, "If 99% of what the church says is true, if even 1% of it is false, then it is a lie and cannot be relied upon."
Furthermore, to which of the two shall we hold the higher standard? The academic treatise and history by a mortal man, or the Kingdom of God on Earth, with Sentinels against the darkness appointed by power, priesthood and prophesy? Sure the Prophet is supposed to be merely a man, but at the same time he possesses all the keys of the kingdom, all of the spiritual gifts of god, and acts as a prophet, seer and revelator. A Seer is an office in which the holder bearsa seer stone, in which all things past, present and future pertaining to the mysteries of God are revealed before them.
Furthermore, Joseph Smith himself taught, "And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie." Ether 3:12. And furthermore,
"46 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that whatsoever you seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever you bind on earth, in my name and by my word, saith the Lord, it shall be eternally bound in the heavens; and whosesoever sins you remit on earth shall be remitted eternally in the heavens; and whosesoever sins you retain on earth shall be retained in heaven.
47 And again, verily I say, whomsoever you bless I will bless, and whomsoever you curse I will curse, saith the Lord; for I, the Lord, am thy God." Doctrine and Covenants 132: 45-46.
Finally, THIS scripture I believe sums it all up nicely:
"11 Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after those wicked harlots. Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words."
Alma 39: 11, in which the prophet Alma condemns his son for his wickedness which caused others to lose their faith in the word being taught by the other prophets.
On April 26th, 2007 Gordon B. Hinkley cavorted with demons, and was not struck dead by God for it. Thus, the inevitable conclusion is that he is not a prophet, but a tool of the Adversary. There is no 'middle ground' in LDS theology. I KNOW Dick Cheney is evil, so therefore those who honor him, those who shower him with honorary degrees, CANNOT be the wardens and servants of God.
But even then, even then I still prayed. I wanted to be sure. So for six months I waited and prayed patiently with my wife. And the Lord confirmed to me that Hinkley is not a prophet. I still feel the spirit of Christ. I still believe in him, but I do not believe that Gordon B. Hinkley or any other leader of the current Church of Jesus Christ has ever been authorized to act as an arbiter of God's will on Earth.
And even, somehow, if I were wrong in that belief, they lost it the moment they honored the genocidal war criminal.
And since an LDS testimony is one given by emotions and spiritual insight rather than rational well thought out beliefs based on empirical and verifiable evidence, let me give another testimony based on spiritual insights, not from proof but from Truths given me by God, to the extent that my god given intuition and rationality can provide those insights.
I testify that Mitt Romney is part of a hidden order within the LDS church destined by a hidden prophesy that one of their number will become president, hence why the father and now the son has tried this, and I believe the son and his son and his son after him will try until they succeed.
I testify that it is because of this secret order that Gordon B. Hinkley and the other leaders of the LDS church have set aside common decency, and 'in the greater good' made a deal with Dick Cheney to honor him at BYU in return for the secret support of George H.W. Bush in the 2008 Presidential election.
I testify that is NO ACCIDENT that the 'mormon speech' that Mitt Romney gave last week was in College Station Texas, home of Texas A&M and also home of the George H.W. Bush presidential library.
I testify that it is no accident that Jeb Bush supports Mitt Romney, and that the Lord was severely displeased by Jeb's actions regarding Terry Shiavo. I further testify that so displeased was the lord by these actions that he condemns Jeb Bush and the entire Bush family unto the fourth generation lest they repent and condemn the actions of the unrighteous father. I further testify that these sins and that this curse is associated and extended to any advocated by Jeb Bush who doth not turn around and condemn the weasel crotch licker for the animal thing that he is instead of accepting Jeb's praise.
I testify that George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Donald Rumsfeld, Condeleza Rice, and anyone in the Project For the American Century will be answerable both to God and an an earthly tribunal and that I believe that tribunal will be the International Criminal Court (which they all condemned) and that they will all be tried as war criminals; not for their conduct in Afghanistan, but for the advocation and tolerance of torture and other war crimes in the country of Iraq.
I further testify that if Mitt Romney is elected President of the United States of America, a curse shall come upon this nation so dark and so black that none, not even the republican minority that refuses to acknowledge the sins of their leaders shall fail to see the Hand of God at work.
I say this in the Name of Jesus Christ, my lord and savior.
Amen.
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