43:00 Yes! My wife and i have sacrificed MUCH to keep the world's culture and philosophy away from our kids by homeschooling. Educating at home rather. They are MUCH better for it. The kids in our ward are drenched in the world and concerned about trends and what's popular and acceptable in the secular world. Our kids are not. Many of our neighbors ask us whatever we're doing with our amazing kids, we should keep it up. It's teaching them that the gospel is more important to us than the world. And that is so much easier even they are home the majority of the time. We live in drastic times, which requires drastic measures to defend our family.
I loved this interview. I had the same thoughts when the church protected themselves yet we were left in the cold. I didn't realize it was the tax exempt status that was the problem till he said it. I agree 100% about home schooling. The only thing I differ on is immigration. The speeding happens occasionally but illegals are illegal all day every day and night. There are cartels coming in. They are getting SO MUCH free stuff from the church that local members never get. (I know i was a senior Spanish missionary) Those coming legally like my son in law from England have to pay a fortune to become legal and don't get help from the church. If I speed and get caught I get fined. They get rewarded. But 99% of the interview was not on immigration and was excellent.
If the church and The Lord wants everyone here it needs to be announced over the pulpit as the new policy instead of “build Zion where you are “ . It feels like the church is more worried about the tax situation than the laws of the land ? Running a light is a fine , lying to obtain asylum is a felony . Definitely not apples to apples .
I think we need to stop defining the “civility” of politicians based only on their public statements or interactions. How is it “civil” to do insider trading or make deals to enrich yourself while serving on Capitol Hill? Or pressuring social media companies to censor free speech the govt doesn’t like? Or sending the FBI to raid a family’s home if they spoke out at a school board meeting? Or making up false legal charges against your political opponent? I could go on and on. But we need to redefine what, and who, is “civil” in politics. For all of his brash bravado and name calling in public, Donald Trump is very kind, complimentary, and extremely generous off stage. Watch the new 6-part documentary “Art of the Surge.” I was surprised to see how respectful and accommodating Trump was when speaking to staff and reporters off stage or at home. He was patient, complimentary, and asked others for their opinions. He never once demanded or yelled or anything. And the people I know who have been around Trump privately say he is legitimately this way. His staff - including the women - have only the nicest things to say about Trump and his family. He even gave a second chance to a lady who runs a family foundation. She had a drug addiction and relapsed. Trump had every right to fire her, but instead the family paid for her rehabilitation and let her return to her job. She wept as she expressed her gratitude to the Trump family. THAT is civility!
Well said. I was wrong about my opinion of Trump when I was disgusted to vote for him in 2016 just so Hillary wouldn't be president. I think everything that the media portrays of him is actually the opposite of who he is when it counts.
Judge them by their fruits. From the beginning, I listened to the words Trump said, not the polish and command of language like the run of the mill lawyer politicians we were used to, and I liked what he was presenting. I am sure he is sent to us from heaven!!!
It's the gadiantons running the government. I can only imagine that the Nephites had the same kind of nonsense going on in their government and being done by members of their church as well.
My husband and I were talking just last night that we lost in the middle of the culture war when Bill Clinton had his scandals in the White House. This podcast was very telling. Thank you!
My husband and I said the EXACT same thing . FDR died in the arms of his mistress , JFK was a horrible adulterer as was LBJ , Eisenhower had a mistress …the difference was Clinton’s sins were VERY public and defended by half the nation . I knew We were on different footing after Clinton .
I agree with your thinking, whether it is done in chapels or in separate buildings. Seventy five years ago, people thought traditional Judaism was headed toward extinction, but they established a system of religious schools for their children and rather than assimilating experienced a huge revival that continues to this day. Only the more moderate Jews are getting assimilated into oblivion. I am neither a Jew nor a Mormon, but I believe in learning from strategies that work.
That is a wonderful idea. Aren't there enough people in our stakes of Zion that could have more meaningful callings. How about be callings to teach the children of Zion like we do outside of Utah for Seminary and institute?
Are you saying some prophets are purposefully censoring Christ? You might be better off just listening instead of suggesting edits on their tone. Just saying, bluntly.
@@jeffreyphillips9121 No I am not saying that any prophet censors Christ… what I am saying, is that there are times when Christ is flipping over tables and using a whip, because that moment in time calls for that These are my personal favorite moments…
I also miss the direct messaging of some of our past leaders. However, we need to be careful here. Bluntness can be easily seen as a virtue when it's directed to others. When we are the recipients, we don't feel as satisfied or as self-righteous. On my first term as the leader of a congregation I was very blunt, and very successful too. Then, three years after my release, I was called to lead another congregation, and I was coming with the same intentions (of course, my initial.sucess convinced me of the correctness of my path) but the Lord was very clear that this new group needed so.ething different. I felt that a much more compassionate approach was needed, and even though my own nature was to be different, the Lord ensured that I followed a different path. I learned a lot. Not that one path was superior to the other, but that we Jesus Christ gives to everyone according to their needs. Sometimes, we need one thing, sometimes another. And being blunt is not a carte-blanche to being rude.
Can you tell me the difference between a baby conceived in a loving marriage and a baby conceived in rape. Why does that baby deserve to be murdered? @@paulmero1127
I love blunt people at least you know where they stand there’s no guessing. I’m tired of people that play word games with the gospel with morals and with ethics
I for one just appreciate it when someone tells you their position on a subject even if I don't agree. When they are open and honest about their reason I can't respect them.
Thanks for that. I home schooled my children all whom are doing well today and have jobs etc. I tried and tried to warn the parents in UT to home school there own kids but all I got was endless push back and excuses and support the local school teachers etc. They were not interested and they didn't want to hear it so I gave up. So in that sense I lost as well in warning them. He is right we lost. Maybe now some people will start to wake up I hope.
I was homeschooled in Utah in the 90s when it was seen as very strange. I got my graduate degree, married and lived out East. I just moved back to Utah after living in New Hampshire for 5 years. Most of the primary in my ward were homeschooling in New Hampshire (and the schools are very highly ranked). I tell people in Utah I homeschool my kids and I am shocked so many people here seem to still think it is backwards. Any member in Utah sending their child to public school who looks back to judge the Hitler Youth program is full of hypocrisy. We’ve had on full display on college campuses students calling for the genocide of Jews. If my children went through the public schools and ONLY were anti-Semitic I would consider them relatively unscathed. Alonzo Bushman went through the Hitler Youth program and to my knowledge he kept his package.
Minute marker 43:00 yes! 👏 As a mother of a young family I wholeheartedly agree. I tell my family, “anyone who did anything worth doing was seen as peculiar by the world.” Yes we homeschool.
Interesting conversation. Made me think differently about the “constitution will be saved by the elders of the church” maybe that’s not even the elders as part of the institution of the church (because I’ve lost some faith on that happening) but instead it will be individual elders upholding that within the walls of their own home and that collectively upholds the constitution.
Many of us are fighting with Mike Lee and Trump to save the Constitution. Ironically I once asked Rex Lee about that and he shut me down. Now his own son is on the job.
No one is against being kind , it just seems the church disagrees with following the laws and even rewards it . The church IS funding NGO’s bringing people here with tithing money . My wards fast offerings have gone to a family claiming asylum from a country with a STRONG LDS presence and 9 temples but they say they don’t want to live there ? They were told to find a wealthy neighborhood in Utah and the members would support them . They are not active members but want extensive benefits in a very high cost area that none of my adult kids can afford to buy into . The Church isn’t as interested in the laws of the land on immigrants as taxes . My son had a bishop removed years ago for breaking immigration laws and the church defended it . I can’t understand the sudden everyone leave home and get to the US even if you have to fudge the truth by the Church ? If the Lord wants everyone here I wish He would say so from the Prophet and that’s fine . Then We can make room here and no longer fund the new building of churches everywhere and send missionaries there if the purpose is to bring them here .
@@paulmero1127Not enforcing immigration laws because someone says they see illegal immigrants as people IS an open border. What a ridiculous statement! They can still be “people” in another country. When laws are not enforced contempt for the system grows.
When it comes to transitioning, and the issue of Agency, I think there should be no blockers, or binders or ANYTHING, unless and until the child is of the age of 18 to 21 and can make that decision for themselves. Preferably 21 as you need to be 21 to drink alcohol. That is considered an adult decision, and transitioning is a bigger one than that. It is not up to the parent, the teacher, or the media to tell children that God made a mistake and they are in the wrong body!!!
I love the imagery of the arc of the covenant & the ark! Both offered protection. Both provide escape from the world. The arc/ark of the new & everlasting covenant offers the same! The rains have started. And the wisdom of HP & Elders together. We need to help our young idealist adults to stay focused on the covenant. In the process we can learn from them.
Existential Threat=Secret Combinations. I disagree with him. The family is under existential threat; most likely the target of multiple secret combinations.
My reply would be that the only existential threats to the family are the parents who allow outside threats to control their families, such as secret combinations and anything else secular. I believe my reply is the context for my on-air comment.
@paulmero1127 broken families have externalities that LDS intact families have to deal with. Just look at the amount of crime that fatherless children engage in. LDS families are affected by the. There are other externalities.
We lost the culture wars because we disengaged after we won in California and then were attacked by the world. To this day, I cannot find one definitive statement defending the Family Proclamation by out current leader RMN. The LGBTQ ideology is the most destructive ideology this church has ever faced and our current leadership will not teach the doctrine or set clear standards and policies. For example, gay married couples in the church. We are taught that our objection about homosexuality is about the law of chastity. Yet temple endowed gay married couples are violating the law of chastity and are accepted as normality in many wards while other leaders hold to the standards. We are a church in chaos with growing differences in our beliefs and even in our concept of God. We are a house divided and the consequences are foretold.
It is disturbing to realize that some wards are “more progressive” than other wards. I know where a few of them are, from friends in or near those wards. There is no doctrinal “progression,” though there may be policies and practices that change due to new advances in technology, or accommodating lifestyle needs of church members in other countries (like combining weekly church meetings into a block of time on Sunday, since many members have to walk far distances to their meetinghouse, etc).
Perhaps I just haven't gotten around enough, but I haven't seen any evidence that couples are being "gay married" in the church, let alone that it's a normalcy in some wards. Russell M. Nelson and others in the Q15 have spoken out profusely against this practice, asserting that the Church's position on it has not changed. Take some time, search up some talks, and listen to what they have said on it; I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. For the record, President Nelson's signature is on the Family Proclamation. Every copy.
@ they aren’t being gay married by the church, there are gay married couples who are violating sacred temple covenants of chastity where many leaders in the church are accepting this and even promoting it. If you engage in polygamy, you are excommunicated and that is in the handbook. If you engage in gay marriage, many leaders, because we do not have a church wide policy as we do on polygamous relationships, accept and even support this.
@@bheer98I know of at least one ward where a man is living in a homosexual relationship and holds a calling at church. Deseret Book promotes Charlie Bird, the gay BYU student who was the Cosmo mascot. He is now “married” to his male partner. That seems to be “normalizing” homosexual relationships in the context of the CoJCoLdS.
Thank you for sharing. I came to know what’s happening in the US. God created humanity as a man and woman and commanded that they are to be one and be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. By following these we participate and sustain god’s plan of salvation. That’s what gay couples never can do.
The life in utero IS life, and that life has a Constitutional right to life, liberty and happiness No one, not even the person whose body that life is growing inside of, has the right to end that life, it is literally UN-constitutional And I am speaking as a woman, who chose to keep, love, and raise, her child from a rape situation… he is now 32 years old and has given me a beautiful granddaughter, who is now 12 I cannot imagine my life without them…
You obviously chose correctly...and your "choice" is the opposite of pro-abortion "choice" wherein selfish people choose their personal autonomy over humanity. That said, your interpretation of "life" is at the heart of the current abortion debate. I happen to believe that life conceived is life but I do understand arguments over "viability." What people who believe as I do must grapple with is the continuum of life. For instance, is the Catholic Church correct to oppose contraception because contraception interrupts the continuum of life? Must I do the same as a Latter-day Saint because I believe life-from-conception? There are legitimate reasons why the LDS Church approves of the "exceptions." What the LDS Church must grapple with in supporting exceptions is the question over exceptions to euthanasia. If they accept exceptions for one must they not also accept exceptions for the other? My point perhaps is that our personal zero-tolerance defenses might not be even the church's defense of the family, let alone society's. My use of the phrase "we all accept" the three exceptions is broadly societal and not even my opinion.
@ If left alone would the baby be born, the answer is yes, and according to the Constitution, all Americans have the protected right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness… abortion violates the right of the unborn child, who IS an American, and who IS protected by the Constitution Abortion is literally UN-Constitutional, which is my point… one American, cannot choose to end the life of another American, just because that American is growing inside of their body and they do not want it, that is the definition of murder…
I believe that the Lord has voiced his doctrine loud and clear and the words have fallen on hard hearts and deaf ears. We are now in the gathering mode. The lord is looking for those who will let him prevail in their life. It is my opinion that the church has shifted, is shifting gears and is now preparing for the second coming of our Lord and Savior. As a people/ church our role is to stand firm, share the gospel and gather scattered Israel on both sides of the veil.
@ In all of recorded scripture, when has the Lord not sent prophets to clearly teach the doctrine and call his people to repentance? We are not clearly teaching the doctrine as there is so much ambiguity in doctrine with the church officially endorsing the RFMA gay marriage law and other LGBTQ promoting laws that are completely contrary to what we used to think was our doctrine. We have abandoned teaching the Family Proclamation and now just get excited when it’s even mentioned let alone clearly taught. The Come Follow Me lessons are so watered down as to be pointless of anything of real substance that pertains to the difficult times we live in. So many members are being persuaded to follow evil because they do not know which way to turn with so many local leaders openly supporting evil.
@@markstimson983 Mark I can see your point of view. I used to think along those lines until I realized the lord has taught us his doctrine. He will instruct his leaders to find common ground and try to work with people/groups. When (ie Boy Scouts of America) these groups go past the mark delineated and are pushing the Lord away, the Lord steps aside and turns to those seeking him and lets the wicked destroy the wicked. (Seen very clearly in the book of Enos) The lord does not fight with people. Either you are obedient or you are not. Ether 12:36,37 if they have not Charity, it matters not unto the, thou has been faithful; therefore thy garments shall be made clean. And because that has seen my weakness, thus shall be made strong, even into the sitting down in the place which I prepared in the mansions of my father.
@ yes, the Lord always uses invitation and never coercion. But nowhere does the Lord ever say, well, I’ve tried to warn them and now I’ll pull my prophets back and let the calamities happen. Even Moroni repented and spoke of the workmen have to do while here in the flesh as he never gave up trying. We have a generation now that have not been taught the truth. They are genuinely confused as to what the doctrines and teachings of Christ are. Modesty, morality, LGBTQ ideology, Marxist identity politics and other issues are being promoted and taught within the church. Jacob and King Mosiah come to mind who understood the responsibility to teach the consequences of sin that their garments would not be stained with the sins of their people. Our kids, and adults, are being taught within the church false teachings and ambiguous teachings at best. Our youth are being taught that it is a higher principle to not offend anyone rather than stand up and teach the truth. I feel so strongly about this because I needed my church leaders as a youth to be clear and steadfast for I did not come from a strong gospel centered family. I would not survive as a youth in todays church and I am seeing so many just walk away because we’re really no better than the world that we have largely adopted. This is why when Moroni saw our day and our doings and our unwillingness to take upon us the name of Christ, he directly asks us why we have polluted the holy church of God. I’m not okay with that.
@ from my perspective we have been warned and warned again. Just because the prophet does not say I am warning you and says “ can you see what’s happening” If conference talks are reviewed over the years, one can see how we have been warned. Now is the time to ask our self, who am I choosing to follow. Where do I choose to be for eternity? What will I give in exchange for my soul. Do I hear him? Does he guide my path daily? Do I look for and expect miracles. If we are familiar with scripture, we are told false doctrine will abound and even the very elect may be deceived. .
The Equal Rights Amendment is part of this, too. The ERA fight was going on in the 70’s when I got married. I was a newlywed, living in Wi Chita, Kansas when the Leading women came to town. I was present at the convention. I often stood up and spoke against it. At the same time my former roommate from BYU was married and living in California.. I was speaking against the ERA in Kansas while she was marching against abortion clinics in her town in California. She continued on fighting for the rights of the unborn. I got very ill and my health hasn’t improved since. I’m fine for a while and then my body crashes and I’m useless. After much contemplation and prayer, the Lord let me know that my health was my priority. So for all these years since 1977 the Church and my family have been my focus. My contribution to fighting against this cultural war has been to bear and raise eight children in the gospel. Half of my children are active and the other half aren’t. However, we do our best to stay close to each other and bear one another’s burdens. At the age of 74 years, I look back and think that I made the best. Choice. I believe that I did what the Lord intended for me to do. I believe that you did, too. The Lord put you where you could do the most good. And you did it. The Lord has promised that He will not take the Church away from the world again. The wicked will not succeed. It may seem that way at times, but Jesus Christ will come again. He is at the helm of this Church. He really is in charge. It’s easy to get discouraged, but you’ll figure out where the Lord wants you to be.
@@maryannstout7600 God withdraws the higher law from his people when our hearts get hard. Jesus taught that Moses allowed divorce "because of the hardness of their hearts." RMN & Hinkley are great prophets. Not greater than Moses, though. You "accept" the changes. But it is wrong to celebrate them.
@ Thank you for the chastisement. I will keep it in mind. However, I don’t consider one prophet to be greater than another. That being said, Jesus said that there was no greater prophet than John the Baptist, so I take back what I said . I will say that I believe each prophet is called for the time he serves. I think that President Nelson is a great prophet. The same goes for GBH.
@@maryannstout7600 I'm not chastising you. There are those who think the Church gets "more true" with time. I'm fighting that kind of arrogance that leads to apostasy. God revealed the endowment to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. God wasn't wrong. When it gets "refined" it is due to OUR wickedness, not God's, Joseph's or Brigham's.
President Benson described himself as a conservative, a liberal, a libertarian .. I think the point he was making is that those words have changed their meaning and can mean things to different people. I'm not convinced that the dark side of the cultural war is fixated on the individual. I think it is fixated on control. Controlling other people because they refuse to control themselves as individual. It comes down to pride and control and a desire to see others misererable like oneself. Conservatives are, to me, better grounded in reality - in the nature of this world and human nature itself. Liberals tend to be more Utopian. In regard to libertarians, I think it depends on the way they see libertarianism. Some see it as a whole idea rather than a starting point, My own view is that libertarian ideals make a great foundation for the structure of society (essentially the Golden Rule) but only has meaning and only ultimately provides the kind of freedom (in the gospel sense) when a conservative worldview is built upon it. Some Conservatives go too far into imposing morality (just as liberals impose immorality) and some libertarians go too far in trying to see libertarianism as the whole picture rather than a foundation. Laws can be by consent as well as imposition. Libertarians (rightly) hold that there should be punishment imposed upon the violator of life, liberty and property but sometimes dismiss the idea that societies can use their choice to adopt laws based upon values by means of the consent of that community, state etc. (e.g. laws banning open promotion of (say) gambling). I think the Gospel does lean a little more libertarian than some conservatives (who some times tend to get a bit rigid in traditions). I think of the example of the early saints setting up licensing laws and Joseph Smith kicking back agaisnt them, calling for freedom. Maybe such "higher laws" should work by consent rather than imposition. We are familiar with covenenants as members of the Church ... why should'nt laws work that way too? They did in ancient Israel.
Either we believe in obeying and sustaining the laws or we don’t. If I get a ticket for speeding, I pay it. When I enter a country illegally, it’s a FELONY! Apples and oranges.
I feel the same way. Even the Nephites protected their borders from the Lamanites. We are told to defend not attack or take wars to others, which America has done and continues to do. I believe this is one of our gravest tragedies. We have overthrown governments to put in someone more friendly to US leadership desires. So many people around the world are enslaved serving the overconsumption desires of the west. Back to borders. Should we remove all the locks from our doors and let anyone enter? If sovereignty doesn’t matter for a nation then why not our home? I believe scriptures warn that those who inherit America after the Gentiles will “dash them to pieces”. That is looking more and more promising as we learn about who has entered in. And even though we have a certain future of really hard times and hard things ahead, the future looks bright.
I agree with you Greg. We have a duty and responsibility to teach and expect truth. Stand and be counted for righteous principles. As a church we are not doing that, and we feel uneasy. I appreciate your stand on your different podcasts. You always try to stand for correct principles. So thank you.
1:44:00 - I feel the same as a homeschool dad. I'm so far from perfect and my wife and i feel like we don't do enough, certainly not as much a we would hope to do. We don't focus on academics, we focus on helping our kids love others while defending truth, the truth you find out from God. "Socialization" is just forced association. But our homeschool kids are socialized just fine with neighbor and ward friends, cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents and us! Most parents, I think, are so afraid of "not fitting in" and their kids not fitting in and being viewed as "weird." If being "weird" means being different than the world the do be it! We're "weird!"
I totally agree with the statement of tax exempt status. We must cut ties. Some goes with homeschool. You allow government to subsidize homeschool government will feel the right to dictate what you teach your child.
I was listening to and enjoying the conversation between the two of you thinking how good it was, then seeing some of the comments as far as thinking this man arrogant, and unbending. In so many instances in the church, this is what we need. we have been taught over and over to put Christ first. All would agree with that. It seems in the church, but then tend to put policies and conversations from the apostles and prophets first. I believe them and love them completely, but if there’s anything I’ve learned from the last couple of years, it is that my testimony, as president Nelson said, should be independent of any other thing or person. we heard those short spoken by Preston, Nelson, but when someone else speaks them, they become a narcissist or a rebel. Yes, we should be courteous and compassionate, but unbending in our testimonies and adhering to the eternal truths of the gospel. We have been given that right, but also that responsibility.
The tax exempt status, or any other thing got me thinking about Nazi Germany where the church had to be very guarded in its public statements so as to protect the members in Germany. Once war broke out the church became overtly vocal about Germany's evils. Is something similar happening now in the U.S.?
Food storage was stressed for many years. Around 1980, I recall, I think it was President Spencer W Kimble, the prophet saying that if we didn't have our food storage at that time, then it was too late. We haven't heard such stress on this subject since. The stress now is about the nearness of the second coming and the gathering of Israel.
And as with so many things that are no longer stressed (like youth standards, the wrongs of LGBTQ, etc) when the members don't hear about it regularly, they figure it's no longer important. I guess like the ancient Israelites, without the Law (of Moses), we just can't stay the course.
If our day is like Noah's day, then at what phase are we in currently? Noah preached repentance, built the ark, gathered animals & provisions, and then got in and shut the door. There was probably some overlap with these activities, however, I think it can be a good analogy. I am not educated by worldly standards. I'm a homeless truck driver. I don't have any wealth to speak of, including any retirement. I come from a long line of peasants. So, maybe you won't take my opinion seriously. I think that the animals and provisions are almost gathered and soon it will be time to shut the door. Why fight Babylon? The war is lost. The judgments will soon come. Let's focus on our families and those in our sphere. We are wheat and Babylon is the tares. Our job is to produce good healthy wheat berries. The angles will pluck out the tares while we are in the barn. We have nothing to do with that. I like this man. It seems he understands what is going on and what is important. I think that is a miracle after he spent so much time in the capital of Babylon. Making people aware is a beautiful thing. If we can wake up those we have contact with according to our ability, then that is great. All of the virgins fell asleep before the call was given of the approach of the Bridegroom. But 5 were ready when they woke up and 5 were not. It's time to wake up. There will be a coming day when it will be too late. So, hopefully, our families and loved ones will get the message too. Where the carcass is l, there the eagles will be gathered. Shalom shalom. 🎉🎉🎉
..."Their order is chaos, because it's all built on personal autonomy..." If the Left had an official Mission Statement this should be placed in the first sentence. Your guest nailed it.
This guy is right about it being too late to reverse the culture war and the importance of the family, but his explanation of ideas is hard to follow. He talks in metaphors and circles that don't ring true.
Perhaps read the book. Perhaps I am in the opposite situation of Moroni in the Book of Ether -- a better writer than speaker. I can tell you what I wrote is true.
Political separation of church and state is good and has been promoted by Church leaders. But those who try to undermine society try to interpret this to mean separation of politics and religion, which isn't good (and not really possible anyway as secular religion takes the place of Christianity).
As a young Evangelical fresh out of Diapers in the 1990s I watched my Childhood Hopes stolen from me. Now as a Latterday Saint I cant say my desire for Divine Wrath has subsided, but I've taken solace in the fact that they reap what they sow....Fertility rates are Dropping...may we have 10 Children. Highly unlikely seeing as God recently chose to bless us with One Child, but I consider that Living Righteously is the best Revenge. Haha Vape Pens, Scantily Clad with Tar encrusted Fingers....ah but even so we ought to remember the Story of the Prodigal Son.
The interviews I take in the best are those that are 1 hour or less. This guest is obviously smart and the subject is decent but it’s just too long. Because of that, it goes off on some side paths that are disengaging.
Even though I agree with Paul on many points, I don't like it when he hints at who he talked to (aurhority)and does not give a perfect quote in context with permission.
Fair point. In the book, I cite the names of General Authorities when my commentary is positive. When my commentary is negative, I write "a senior church official." I admit in the Preface of the book that my memory will not be exact at 67 years old and 40 years of career...and I ask for grace. As far as "permission" goes, I don't need anyone's permission when providing context to make a point. I am happy to address specifics if you have them...either during the interview or in my book.
I've never heard about the restrictions placed on the church as a result of tax exempt status. I would love to learn more about that. Maybe the subject of another podcast episode?
"Invite people into your homes, but never go into others' homes." That is interpreted in Utah as, "Billie isn't allowed to play with non-mormons". "My kid cant go to your house because we dont trust your kind, but our house is available to host a sleepover."
I suppose Noah thought he had lost the culture war, untill the rains came and the flood silenced the voices of the nasty and the profane forever.We may not be popular, but the Lord has never lost a battle or a war.Soddom is a heap of burned out ruins and King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were erased ,and were no more.Take courage, these people who oppose the things of God are nothing but dust and eventually, their hatred will be no more, they will be swept off, and not be found.
As I write in my book, if you are a Libertarian, you are on the wrong side. Libertarians are simply the progressive Right, in my opinion. Little different than the progressive Left -- both of which choose to worship the cult of personal autonomy.
I am struggling with a lot of what he is saying. He just sounds very arrogant and judgmental. I am very conservative and strong in my LDS faith and I found him very pessimistic and not real motivating. Love your show very much.
Many people who know me feel the same way as you do. :) All I can tell you in relation is that what I write in my book is true. I have a good friend...a progressive radio personality in Utah...who once said the thing he hates most about me is that I think I'm right about everything. He's right...even when I grow and change opinions. :) When Greg said what we were talking about was very pessimistic, I replied that we were actually very hopeful about the picture we were painting. Yes, the rains have come, but we have an ark for comfort and safety (i.e. our homes and the House of the Lord).
I still don't think the guest has quite gotten to the core of the problem. Every viable human society and institution is conditioned by history, custom, and tradition, and thus legal systems were traditionally based on the ethical traditions of the dominant religion. The new ideology that was born in the so called Enlightenment has replaced religious particularism with abstract human reason as the foundation for law. Consequently, you get assumptions of individualism and cosmopolitanism (or universalism if you prefer that word), which are opposite sides of the same coin. The ambition was to create a new system of government and law that is derived from something that is common to all mankind, that is, a least common denominator, and there is just not enough human cultural commonality to do that, so we get a new moral order based on the individual and that creates an unsustainable social order in which many individuals, because they are allowed to, make maladaptive choices, and eventually this maladaptive individualism (or "autonomy" if you prefer) infects more and more people. Maximizing individual liberty ("personal autonomy") is as maladaptive as maximizing social control by a central authority. Sustainable and harmonious societies find a happy medium somewhere between the two extremes. We have to make the case that history and culture matter, and that the legal system must be compatible with the dominant religious tradition.
Essentially, after listening to this what I'm hearing is you are on your own. Stay close to God cuz the church isn't going to be there to have your back. They are compromised.
You're a good listener. As long as the church clutches its tax exemption, it is controlled to a certain degree by Babylon. The church can choose to be independent from the world, just as we can choose to be individually.
The phrase “home-based, church supported” was the first indication that I had as a newly married man that in the coming days, we would be more and more on our own. Since then, I have come to realize that Brother Joseph was trying to prepare the saints for this clear back in his day. We are meant to know how to receive revelation and stand in holy places. We must still sustain the brethren, and listen with our hearts to their words, but if you aren’t implementing these things in your own home, you will fall.
The body is not a prison?….yet everyone who dies (and lives to tell about it) experienced profound knowledge, painlessness, love, joy OUTSIDE of this “veil of tears” state of mortality. I don’t know…sounds/feels like a prison to me. We’re limited by everything from circadian rhythms to viruses to lies and delusions, to needing to eat. Disease, genetics, foolish mortal economics, and this isn’t a prison? Convince me, because my body is succeeding at convincing me otherwise. Someday, not to be weak, frail, limited, not to be mortal.
@@CwicShow the church has the responsibility to the world...to stand as a witness of God at all times, places and things, even unto death. If we are to follow our leaders examples then lead as Jesus would. Teach the word by example.
Joseph saved Egypt and its neighbors, yet he was under pharoah. The church has to be trusted to operate under this and many governments until Christ comes again.
@davidp8854 Jesus never said to trust the church. He said that we must judge our leaders and if they do/do not do what he called out then you'll know if your leaders our honorable or not. We are not in a cult. We do not blindly follow. Our church needs to do better.
Who understands the new and everlasting covenant of marriage? Really? What are the rites of marriage? What are all the laws of marriage? Who has taught any of this over the pulpit? Where can any of this be found in the published correlated materials of the church?
Humanity is wonderful. But when we kill millions of babies in the womb. When we give jobs to those who are unqualified but have the "right skin color" or "sexual preference". when the country is deluged with millions of immigrants who have no way to care for themselves and are given all the benefits of those already here then there is chaos. No one is against abortion to save a mothers life, or for someone who was raped. No one is against someone of a different color and sexual preference if their ideals don't hurt us. No one is against immigration when it's done orderly and doesn't strain the system and citizens. All of this causes chaos and lack of order. So if you go 10 miles over the speed limit it's likely not a danger. But if you go 40 miles over then it's excess and dangerous. And THAT is why some laws are necessary. For those who don't have the common sense to avoid excess and who want to keep order. And I'm one who greatly dislikes silly laws like seat belt laws.
1:11:11 I totally agree! Gathering Israel. Building Zion. Strengthening our families. Those are the priorities. Not academics. Not politics. Not athletics. Not entertainment. Those are all great and fun. But they're aren't the priority. One of the quotes my parents had framed on our wall was the one about a family reading the Book of Mormon everyday would have the spirit of the Lord in the home more. Lds of the Spirit of contention. I think it was Marion G. Romney. President Romney said that parents should read the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly with their children. He believed that this would fill the home with the spirit of the book, increasing reverence, respect, and consideration. He also believed that this would lead to increased righteousness, faith, hope, and charity, and ultimately to peace, joy, and happiness.
We can start at any moment and not lament the past. There are plenty of Christian academic programs that adults of all ages can study and teach youth and teens. They want to know about relationships, chastity, respect, marriage, love for children and being attentive to their development and moral formation. I think the LDS may have taught this but am not sure as it was not my faith. Catholics are still "pro-life" regarding supporting marriage, children, family. Being parents and have teaching and communities to support this. But they are intimidated by the Protestant prejudice against them, so they keep to themselves.
@@CwicShow And further..as long as the church clings to its tax-exempt status, we should not want it to help us...because what drags it down only drags us down too.
Greg @CwicShow, you ask "what should we do, how should we fight" in this culture war? You have a deep sense of healthy "duty". Correctly framing the question is vital. Duty to what? Answer: To the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. How much of my duty? Answer: All of it. But what about my duties to [my country, my ethnic group, my ___]? Answer: When you are the best member of the Church of Jesus Christ, you are by definition, automatically the best member in any other domain. Being thus properly anchored, and only then, can we correctly act or be "anxiously engaged". As members, our loyalty is to the Kingdom of Christ, and none other. We covenant all our time, attention, tithes, duties, what we are and will be, to building up the kingdom. We become "representative agents" (as Elder Bednar teaches) promoting the will, purposes, objectives of Christ and His Church, subjecting any personal agendas or will to HIs. So, I ask again, what is your duty? BTW, Greg I think you're doing great at all those things as a member (I've watched all your content). I just heard you ask the right question but I didn't quite hear the direct, clear answer. For example, Paul is right to say don't go to enemy territory but instead "invite others to come to Zion". But he never explicitly anchored his answer to a governing "why" principle. Maybe he thought it was self evident but for most, it's not it seems.
Man I tried. I can’t take this man seriously with his condescending comments. I know libertarians that would run circles around this guy on political philosophy. His premise about liberty vs freedom is nonsensical. Just a bare naked assertion. He’s just rehashing all the old 80’s/90’s conservative talking points…and ya know man, there’s a reason you lost. The problem was involving The State in trying to create your conservative society. Leviathan will corrupt everything every time.
Paul Mero was a horrible person to deal with if he didn’t like or agree with a dissenting perspective when it came to Utah politics. I can’t tell you how many times he and the Eagle Forum would paint those that disagree with them as evil and unfaithful members of the church. I have ZERO respect for Paul.
43:00 Yes! My wife and i have sacrificed MUCH to keep the world's culture and philosophy away from our kids by homeschooling. Educating at home rather. They are MUCH better for it. The kids in our ward are drenched in the world and concerned about trends and what's popular and acceptable in the secular world. Our kids are not. Many of our neighbors ask us whatever we're doing with our amazing kids, we should keep it up. It's teaching them that the gospel is more important to us than the world. And that is so much easier even they are home the majority of the time.
We live in drastic times, which requires drastic measures to defend our family.
Covid wasn't about public HEALTH either
I loved this interview. I had the same thoughts when the church protected themselves yet we were left in the cold. I didn't realize it was the tax exempt status that was the problem till he said it. I agree 100% about home schooling. The only thing I differ on is immigration. The speeding happens occasionally but illegals are illegal all day every day and night. There are cartels coming in. They are getting SO MUCH free stuff from the church that local members never get. (I know i was a senior Spanish missionary) Those coming legally like my son in law from England have to pay a fortune to become legal and don't get help from the church. If I speed and get caught I get fined. They get rewarded.
But 99% of the interview was not on immigration and was excellent.
If the church and The Lord wants everyone here it needs to be announced over the pulpit as the new policy instead of “build Zion where you are “ . It feels like the church is more worried about the tax situation than the laws of the land ? Running a light is a fine , lying to obtain asylum is a felony . Definitely not apples to apples .
I think we need to stop defining the “civility” of politicians based only on their public statements or interactions. How is it “civil” to do insider trading or make deals to enrich yourself while serving on Capitol Hill? Or pressuring social media companies to censor free speech the govt doesn’t like? Or sending the FBI to raid a family’s home if they spoke out at a school board meeting? Or making up false legal charges against your political opponent? I could go on and on. But we need to redefine what, and who, is “civil” in politics.
For all of his brash bravado and name calling in public, Donald Trump is very kind, complimentary, and extremely generous off stage. Watch the new 6-part documentary “Art of the Surge.” I was surprised to see how respectful and accommodating Trump was when speaking to staff and reporters off stage or at home. He was patient, complimentary, and asked others for their opinions. He never once demanded or yelled or anything. And the people I know who have been around Trump privately say he is legitimately this way.
His staff - including the women - have only the nicest things to say about Trump and his family. He even gave a second chance to a lady who runs a family foundation. She had a drug addiction and relapsed. Trump had every right to fire her, but instead the family paid for her rehabilitation and let her return to her job. She wept as she expressed her gratitude to the Trump family. THAT is civility!
Thanks for saying this and so thoroughly.
Well said. I was wrong about my opinion of Trump when I was disgusted to vote for him in 2016 just so Hillary wouldn't be president. I think everything that the media portrays of him is actually the opposite of who he is when it counts.
Judge them by their fruits. From the beginning, I listened to the words Trump said, not the polish and command of language like the run of the mill lawyer politicians we were used to, and I liked what he was presenting. I am sure he is sent to us from heaven!!!
It's the gadiantons running the government. I can only imagine that the Nephites had the same kind of nonsense going on in their government and being done by members of their church as well.
My husband and I were talking just last night that we lost in the middle of the culture war when Bill Clinton had his scandals in the White House. This podcast was very telling. Thank you!
My husband and I said the EXACT same thing . FDR died in the arms of his mistress , JFK was a horrible adulterer as was LBJ , Eisenhower had a mistress …the difference was Clinton’s sins were VERY public and defended by half the nation . I knew We were on different footing after Clinton .
I still think that the Church ought to turn chapels into schools during the week.
I agree with your thinking, whether it is done in chapels or in separate buildings. Seventy five years ago, people thought traditional Judaism was headed toward extinction, but they established a system of religious schools for their children and rather than assimilating experienced a huge revival that continues to this day. Only the more moderate Jews are getting assimilated into oblivion. I am neither a Jew nor a Mormon, but I believe in learning from strategies that work.
@@andrewbfrost7021 absolutely. I know they are developing curriculum with with a local private LDS based school with this thought in mind
@@michaels4255Liahona Preparatory Academy in Pleasant Grove, UT is privately owned by a latter day saint.
Homeschooling dont wait for the church it will be to late
That is a wonderful idea. Aren't there enough people in our stakes of Zion that could have more meaningful callings. How about be callings to teach the children of Zion like we do outside of Utah for Seminary and institute?
I agree. That was when TV sitcoms started painting men as imbeciles who can't survive without their much more capable wife making all their decisions.
Yes that's when I knew the social engineering was all pervasive.
My favorite prophets are the ones who are blunt, direct, and tell it like it is
I really miss them…
Are you saying some prophets are purposefully censoring Christ? You might be better off just listening instead of suggesting edits on their tone. Just saying, bluntly.
@@jeffreyphillips9121
No I am not saying that any prophet censors Christ… what I am saying, is that there are times when Christ is flipping over tables and using a whip, because that moment in time calls for that
These are my personal favorite moments…
I also miss the direct messaging of some of our past leaders. However, we need to be careful here.
Bluntness can be easily seen as a virtue when it's directed to others. When we are the recipients, we don't feel as satisfied or as self-righteous.
On my first term as the leader of a congregation I was very blunt, and very successful too. Then, three years after my release, I was called to lead another congregation, and I was coming with the same intentions (of course, my initial.sucess convinced me of the correctness of my path) but the Lord was very clear that this new group needed so.ething different. I felt that a much more compassionate approach was needed, and even though my own nature was to be different, the Lord ensured that I followed a different path.
I learned a lot. Not that one path was superior to the other, but that we Jesus Christ gives to everyone according to their needs.
Sometimes, we need one thing, sometimes another.
And being blunt is not a carte-blanche to being rude.
@@Nassaldromuswell stated thank you
NO! rape and incest do not excuse murder! Don't say we all accept that!
Agreed. Are you doing the March for life in January? It's disgusting that the Utah courts are promoting abortion. Cox stinks.
Not an "excuse," just a humane reality.
Can you tell me the difference between a baby conceived in a loving marriage and a baby conceived in rape. Why does that baby deserve to be murdered? @@paulmero1127
@paulmero1127 "Humain" for whom? It's just a profit center for the Kermit Gosnels of this sickening world. Child bearing is a gift from God.
Thank you!! ❤❤❤
I love blunt people at least you know where they stand there’s no guessing. I’m tired of people that play word games with the gospel with morals and with ethics
Everyone says that until a blunt person says something you don’t agree with that pokes your belief ego…. Then blunt person is an idiot 🤬
I for one just appreciate it when someone tells you their position on a subject even if I don't agree. When they are open and honest about their reason I can't respect them.
To be blunt is to say that Babylon is wrong. She is so powerful in people's hearts.
Go blunt or go home
Thanks for that. I home schooled my children all whom are doing well today and have jobs etc. I tried and tried to warn the parents in UT to home school there own kids but all I got was endless push back and excuses and support the local school teachers etc. They were not interested and they didn't want to hear it so I gave up. So in that sense I lost as well in warning them. He is right we lost. Maybe now some people will start to wake up I hope.
I was homeschooled in Utah in the 90s when it was seen as very strange. I got my graduate degree, married and lived out East. I just moved back to Utah after living in New Hampshire for 5 years. Most of the primary in my ward were homeschooling in New Hampshire (and the schools are very highly ranked). I tell people in Utah I homeschool my kids and I am shocked so many people here seem to still think it is backwards. Any member in Utah sending their child to public school who looks back to judge the Hitler Youth program is full of hypocrisy. We’ve had on full display on college campuses students calling for the genocide of Jews. If my children went through the public schools and ONLY were anti-Semitic I would consider them relatively unscathed. Alonzo Bushman went through the Hitler Youth program and to my knowledge he kept his package.
Minute marker 43:00 yes! 👏 As a mother of a young family I wholeheartedly agree. I tell my family, “anyone who did anything worth doing was seen as peculiar by the world.” Yes we homeschool.
Interesting conversation. Made me think differently about the “constitution will be saved by the elders of the church” maybe that’s not even the elders as part of the institution of the church (because I’ve lost some faith on that happening) but instead it will be individual elders upholding that within the walls of their own home and that collectively upholds the constitution.
Many of us are fighting with Mike Lee and Trump to save the Constitution. Ironically I once asked Rex Lee about that and he shut me down. Now his own son is on the job.
Open borders would lead to chaos and destruction. Does the Church have an "open border" policy when it comes to temple attendance?
Seeing people as people is not an open border.
No one is against being kind , it just seems the church disagrees with following the laws and even rewards it . The church IS funding NGO’s bringing people here with tithing money . My wards fast offerings have gone to a family claiming asylum from a country with a STRONG LDS presence and 9 temples but they say they don’t want to live there ? They were told to find a wealthy neighborhood in Utah and the members would support them . They are not active members but want extensive benefits in a very high cost area that none of my adult kids can afford to buy into . The Church isn’t as interested in the laws of the land on immigrants as taxes . My son had a bishop removed years ago for breaking immigration laws and the church defended it . I can’t understand the sudden everyone leave home and get to the US even if you have to fudge the truth by the Church ? If the Lord wants everyone here I wish He would say so from the Prophet and that’s fine . Then We can make room here and no longer fund the new building of churches everywhere and send missionaries there if the purpose is to bring them here .
They don’t have an open border policy
@@paulmero1127Not enforcing immigration laws because someone says they see illegal immigrants as people IS an open border. What a ridiculous statement! They can still be “people” in another country. When laws are not enforced contempt for the system grows.
When it comes to transitioning, and the issue of Agency, I think there should be no blockers, or binders or ANYTHING, unless and until the child is of the age of 18 to 21 and can make that decision for themselves. Preferably 21 as you need to be 21 to drink alcohol. That is considered an adult decision, and transitioning is a bigger one than that. It is not up to the parent, the teacher, or the media to tell children that God made a mistake and they are in the wrong body!!!
I love the imagery of the arc of the covenant & the ark! Both offered protection. Both provide escape from the world. The arc/ark of the new & everlasting covenant offers the same! The rains have started.
And the wisdom of HP & Elders together. We need to help our young idealist adults to stay focused on the covenant. In the process we can learn from them.
Hey
Wanted to say sorry for my smart ass hair dye comment I made… deleted it
I was in a mood…
You’re the man!!!
Existential Threat=Secret Combinations. I disagree with him. The family is under existential threat; most likely the target of multiple secret combinations.
My reply would be that the only existential threats to the family are the parents who allow outside threats to control their families, such as secret combinations and anything else secular. I believe my reply is the context for my on-air comment.
@paulmero1127 broken families have externalities that LDS intact families have to deal with. Just look at the amount of crime that fatherless children engage in. LDS families are affected by the. There are other externalities.
We lost the culture wars because we disengaged after we won in California and then were attacked by the world. To this day, I cannot find one definitive statement defending the Family Proclamation by out current leader RMN. The LGBTQ ideology is the most destructive ideology this church has ever faced and our current leadership will not teach the doctrine or set clear standards and policies. For example, gay married couples in the church. We are taught that our objection about homosexuality is about the law of chastity. Yet temple endowed gay married couples are violating the law of chastity and are accepted as normality in many wards while other leaders hold to the standards. We are a church in chaos with growing differences in our beliefs and even in our concept of God. We are a house divided and the consequences are foretold.
It is disturbing to realize that some wards are “more progressive” than other wards. I know where a few of them are, from friends in or near those wards. There is no doctrinal “progression,” though there may be policies and practices that change due to new advances in technology, or accommodating lifestyle needs of church members in other countries (like combining weekly church meetings into a block of time on Sunday, since many members have to walk far distances to their meetinghouse, etc).
Perhaps I just haven't gotten around enough, but I haven't seen any evidence that couples are being "gay married" in the church, let alone that it's a normalcy in some wards.
Russell M. Nelson and others in the Q15 have spoken out profusely against this practice, asserting that the Church's position on it has not changed. Take some time, search up some talks, and listen to what they have said on it; I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
For the record, President Nelson's signature is on the Family Proclamation. Every copy.
@ they aren’t being gay married by the church, there are gay married couples who are violating sacred temple covenants of chastity where many leaders in the church are accepting this and even promoting it. If you engage in polygamy, you are excommunicated and that is in the handbook. If you engage in gay marriage, many leaders, because we do not have a church wide policy as we do on polygamous relationships, accept and even support this.
@@bheer98I know of at least one ward where a man is living in a homosexual relationship and holds a calling at church.
Deseret Book promotes Charlie Bird, the gay BYU student who was the Cosmo mascot. He is now “married” to his male partner. That seems to be “normalizing” homosexual relationships in the context of the CoJCoLdS.
Thank you for sharing. I came to know what’s happening in the US. God created humanity as a man and woman and commanded that they are to be one and be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. By following these we participate and sustain god’s plan of salvation. That’s what gay couples never can do.
The life in utero IS life, and that life has a Constitutional right to life, liberty and happiness
No one, not even the person whose body that life is growing inside of, has the right to end that life, it is literally UN-constitutional
And I am speaking as a woman, who chose to keep, love, and raise, her child from a rape situation… he is now 32 years old and has given me a beautiful granddaughter, who is now 12
I cannot imagine my life without them…
Bless you.
You obviously chose correctly...and your "choice" is the opposite of pro-abortion "choice" wherein selfish people choose their personal autonomy over humanity. That said, your interpretation of "life" is at the heart of the current abortion debate. I happen to believe that life conceived is life but I do understand arguments over "viability." What people who believe as I do must grapple with is the continuum of life. For instance, is the Catholic Church correct to oppose contraception because contraception interrupts the continuum of life? Must I do the same as a Latter-day Saint because I believe life-from-conception? There are legitimate reasons why the LDS Church approves of the "exceptions." What the LDS Church must grapple with in supporting exceptions is the question over exceptions to euthanasia. If they accept exceptions for one must they not also accept exceptions for the other? My point perhaps is that our personal zero-tolerance defenses might not be even the church's defense of the family, let alone society's. My use of the phrase "we all accept" the three exceptions is broadly societal and not even my opinion.
@
If left alone would the baby be born, the answer is yes, and according to the Constitution, all Americans have the protected right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness… abortion violates the right of the unborn child, who IS an American, and who IS protected by the Constitution
Abortion is literally UN-Constitutional, which is my point… one American, cannot choose to end the life of another American, just because that American is growing inside of their body and they do not want it, that is the definition of murder…
Without spiritual meat we can't grow strong spiritual muscle.
I believe that the Lord has voiced his doctrine loud and clear and the words have fallen on hard hearts and deaf ears. We are now in the gathering mode. The lord is looking for those who will let him prevail in their life. It is my opinion that the church has shifted, is shifting gears and is now preparing for the second coming of our Lord and Savior. As a people/ church our role is to stand firm, share the gospel and gather scattered Israel on both sides of the veil.
@ In all of recorded scripture, when has the Lord not sent prophets to clearly teach the doctrine and call his people to repentance? We are not clearly teaching the doctrine as there is so much ambiguity in doctrine with the church officially endorsing the RFMA gay marriage law and other LGBTQ promoting laws that are completely contrary to what we used to think was our doctrine. We have abandoned teaching the Family Proclamation and now just get excited when it’s even mentioned let alone clearly taught. The Come Follow Me lessons are so watered down as to be pointless of anything of real substance that pertains to the difficult times we live in. So many members are being persuaded to follow evil because they do not know which way to turn with so many local leaders openly supporting evil.
@@markstimson983 Mark I can see your point of view. I used to think along those lines until I realized the lord has taught us his doctrine. He will instruct his leaders to find common ground and try to work with people/groups. When (ie Boy Scouts of America) these groups go past the mark delineated and are pushing the Lord away, the Lord steps aside and turns to those seeking him and lets the wicked destroy the wicked. (Seen very clearly in the book of Enos) The lord does not fight with people. Either you are obedient or you are not.
Ether 12:36,37 if they have not Charity, it matters not unto the, thou has been faithful; therefore thy garments shall be made clean. And because that has seen my weakness, thus shall be made strong, even into the sitting down in the place which I prepared in the mansions of my father.
@ yes, the Lord always uses invitation and never coercion. But nowhere does the Lord ever say, well, I’ve tried to warn them and now I’ll pull my prophets back and let the calamities happen. Even Moroni repented and spoke of the workmen have to do while here in the flesh as he never gave up trying. We have a generation now that have not been taught the truth. They are genuinely confused as to what the doctrines and teachings of Christ are. Modesty, morality, LGBTQ ideology, Marxist identity politics and other issues are being promoted and taught within the church. Jacob and King Mosiah come to mind who understood the responsibility to teach the consequences of sin that their garments would not be stained with the sins of their people. Our kids, and adults, are being taught within the church false teachings and ambiguous teachings at best. Our youth are being taught that it is a higher principle to not offend anyone rather than stand up and teach the truth. I feel so strongly about this because I needed my church leaders as a youth to be clear and steadfast for I did not come from a strong gospel centered family. I would not survive as a youth in todays church and I am seeing so many just walk away because we’re really no better than the world that we have largely adopted. This is why when Moroni saw our day and our doings and our unwillingness to take upon us the name of Christ, he directly asks us why we have polluted the holy church of God. I’m not okay with that.
@ from my perspective we have been warned and warned again. Just because the prophet does not say I am warning you and says “ can you see what’s happening” If conference talks are reviewed over the years, one can see how we have been warned. Now is the time to ask our self, who am I choosing to follow. Where do I choose to be for eternity? What will I give in exchange for my soul. Do I hear him? Does he guide my path daily? Do I look for and expect miracles. If we are familiar with scripture, we are told false doctrine will abound and even the very elect may be deceived. .
The Equal Rights Amendment is part of this, too. The ERA fight was going on in the 70’s when I got married. I was a newlywed, living in Wi Chita, Kansas when the Leading women came to town. I was present at the convention. I often stood up and spoke against it. At the same time my former roommate from BYU was married and living in California.. I was speaking against the ERA in Kansas while she was marching against abortion clinics in her town in California. She continued on fighting for the rights of the unborn. I got very ill and my health hasn’t improved since. I’m fine for a while and then my body crashes and I’m useless. After much contemplation and prayer, the Lord let me know that my health was my priority. So for all these years since 1977 the Church and my family have been my focus. My contribution to fighting against this cultural war has been to bear and raise eight children in the gospel. Half of my children are active and the other half aren’t. However, we do our best to stay close to each other and bear one another’s burdens. At the age of 74 years, I look back and think that I made the best. Choice. I believe that I did what the Lord intended for me to do. I believe that you did, too. The Lord put you where you could do the most good. And you did it.
The Lord has promised that He will not take the Church away from the world again. The wicked will not succeed. It may seem that way at times, but Jesus Christ will come again. He is at the helm of this Church. He really is in charge. It’s easy to get discouraged, but you’ll figure out where the Lord wants you to be.
How did you feel when the feminists got the ERA into the temple (1990 & 2019)?
I accepted the changes made in the temple without question.
@@maryannstout7600 God withdraws the higher law from his people when our hearts get hard. Jesus taught that Moses allowed divorce "because of the hardness of their hearts." RMN & Hinkley are great prophets. Not greater than Moses, though. You "accept" the changes. But it is wrong to celebrate them.
@ Thank you for the chastisement. I will keep it in mind. However, I don’t consider one prophet to be greater than another. That being said, Jesus said that there was no greater prophet than John the Baptist, so I take back what I said . I will say that I believe each prophet is called for the time he serves. I think that President Nelson is a great prophet. The same goes for GBH.
@@maryannstout7600 I'm not chastising you. There are those who think the Church gets "more true" with time. I'm fighting that kind of arrogance that leads to apostasy. God revealed the endowment to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. God wasn't wrong. When it gets "refined" it is due to OUR wickedness, not God's, Joseph's or Brigham's.
President Benson described himself as a conservative, a liberal, a libertarian .. I think the point he was making is that those words have changed their meaning and can mean things to different people.
I'm not convinced that the dark side of the cultural war is fixated on the individual. I think it is fixated on control. Controlling other people because they refuse to control themselves as individual. It comes down to pride and control and a desire to see others misererable like oneself.
Conservatives are, to me, better grounded in reality - in the nature of this world and human nature itself. Liberals tend to be more Utopian. In regard to libertarians, I think it depends on the way they see libertarianism. Some see it as a whole idea rather than a starting point, My own view is that libertarian ideals make a great foundation for the structure of society (essentially the Golden Rule) but only has meaning and only ultimately provides the kind of freedom (in the gospel sense) when a conservative worldview is built upon it.
Some Conservatives go too far into imposing morality (just as liberals impose immorality) and some libertarians go too far in trying to see libertarianism as the whole picture rather than a foundation. Laws can be by consent as well as imposition. Libertarians (rightly) hold that there should be punishment imposed upon the violator of life, liberty and property but sometimes dismiss the idea that societies can use their choice to adopt laws based upon values by means of the consent of that community, state etc. (e.g. laws banning open promotion of (say) gambling).
I think the Gospel does lean a little more libertarian than some conservatives (who some times tend to get a bit rigid in traditions). I think of the example of the early saints setting up licensing laws and Joseph Smith kicking back agaisnt them, calling for freedom. Maybe such "higher laws" should work by consent rather than imposition. We are familiar with covenenants as members of the Church ... why should'nt laws work that way too? They did in ancient Israel.
Either we believe in obeying and sustaining the laws or we don’t. If I get a ticket for speeding, I pay it. When I enter a country illegally, it’s a FELONY! Apples and oranges.
I feel the same way. Even the Nephites protected their borders from the Lamanites. We are told to defend not attack or take wars to others, which America has done and continues to do. I believe this is one of our gravest tragedies. We have overthrown governments to put in someone more friendly to US leadership desires. So many people around the world are enslaved serving the overconsumption desires of the west.
Back to borders. Should we remove all the locks from our doors and let anyone enter? If sovereignty doesn’t matter for a nation then why not our home? I believe scriptures warn that those who inherit America after the Gentiles will “dash them to pieces”. That is looking more and more promising as we learn about who has entered in. And even though we have a certain future of really hard times and hard things ahead, the future looks bright.
Well, re-entry
I agree with you Greg. We have a duty and responsibility to teach and expect truth. Stand and be counted for righteous principles. As a church we are not doing that, and we feel uneasy. I appreciate your stand on your different podcasts. You always try to stand for correct principles. So thank you.
1:44:00 - I feel the same as a homeschool dad. I'm so far from perfect and my wife and i feel like we don't do enough, certainly not as much a we would hope to do. We don't focus on academics, we focus on helping our kids love others while defending truth, the truth you find out from God.
"Socialization" is just forced association. But our homeschool kids are socialized just fine with neighbor and ward friends, cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents and us!
Most parents, I think, are so afraid of "not fitting in" and their kids not fitting in and being viewed as "weird." If being "weird" means being different than the world the do be it! We're "weird!"
One could argue that the different glories have a strict immigration policy.
I totally agree with the statement of tax exempt status. We must cut ties. Some goes with homeschool. You allow government to subsidize homeschool government will feel the right to dictate what you teach your child.
I was listening to and enjoying the conversation between the two of you thinking how good it was, then seeing some of the comments as far as thinking this man arrogant, and unbending. In so many instances in the church, this is what we need. we have been taught over and over to put Christ first. All would agree with that. It seems in the church, but then tend to put policies and conversations from the apostles and prophets first. I believe them and love them completely, but if there’s anything I’ve learned from the last couple of years, it is that my testimony, as president Nelson said, should be independent of any other thing or person. we heard those short spoken by Preston, Nelson, but when someone else speaks them, they become a narcissist or a rebel. Yes, we should be courteous and compassionate, but unbending in our testimonies and adhering to the eternal truths of the gospel. We have been given that right, but also that responsibility.
Great guest as always.
This was a fantastic and thought provoking interview. I will be watching it again.
If MTG didn’t defend so much she would be betraying her constituents.
The tax exempt status, or any other thing got me thinking about Nazi Germany where the church had to be very guarded in its public statements so as to protect the members in Germany. Once war broke out the church became overtly vocal about Germany's evils.
Is something similar happening now in the U.S.?
Excellent interview. Paul is an everyman who has make me feel no so alone.
Fantastic guest! Thanks, Greg!
Food storage was stressed for many years. Around 1980, I recall, I think it was President Spencer W Kimble, the prophet saying that if we didn't have our food storage at that time, then it was too late. We haven't heard such stress on this subject since. The stress now is about the nearness of the second coming and the gathering of Israel.
And as with so many things that are no longer stressed (like youth standards, the wrongs of LGBTQ, etc) when the members don't hear about it regularly, they figure it's no longer important. I guess like the ancient Israelites, without the Law (of Moses), we just can't stay the course.
If our day is like Noah's day, then at what phase are we in currently? Noah preached repentance, built the ark, gathered animals & provisions, and then got in and shut the door.
There was probably some overlap with these activities, however, I think it can be a good analogy.
I am not educated by worldly standards. I'm a homeless truck driver. I don't have any wealth to speak of, including any retirement. I come from a long line of peasants. So, maybe you won't take my opinion seriously.
I think that the animals and provisions are almost gathered and soon it will be time to shut the door. Why fight Babylon? The war is lost. The judgments will soon come. Let's focus on our families and those in our sphere.
We are wheat and Babylon is the tares. Our job is to produce good healthy wheat berries. The angles will pluck out the tares while we are in the barn. We have nothing to do with that.
I like this man. It seems he understands what is going on and what is important. I think that is a miracle after he spent so much time in the capital of Babylon.
Making people aware is a beautiful thing. If we can wake up those we have contact with according to our ability, then that is great. All of the virgins fell asleep before the call was given of the approach of the Bridegroom. But 5 were ready when they woke up and 5 were not. It's time to wake up. There will be a coming day when it will be too late. So, hopefully, our families and loved ones will get the message too.
Where the carcass is l, there the eagles will be gathered.
Shalom shalom. 🎉🎉🎉
I love your heart, you are not really homeless, you have a mansion in glory just waiting for you! Your in Christ, Dan.
..."Their order is chaos, because it's all built on personal autonomy..." If the Left had an official Mission Statement this should be placed in the first sentence. Your guest nailed it.
This guy is right about it being too late to reverse the culture war and the importance of the family, but his explanation of ideas is hard to follow. He talks in metaphors and circles that don't ring true.
Perhaps read the book. Perhaps I am in the opposite situation of Moroni in the Book of Ether -- a better writer than speaker. I can tell you what I wrote is true.
@ What is the title of the book?
Defeated: A Latter-day Saints Witness and Warning After 40 years Deep Inside the Modern American Culture War
Freedom and liberty are used in scripture.
We are created FREE to choose *liberty* and life, or cativity and death.
I really enjoyed this interview. I agree and have had many of his same experiences. Thanks for sharing!
Separation of church and state. Separation of spirit (church)and body (state). Separate them and you have death.
Political separation of church and state is good and has been promoted by Church leaders. But those who try to undermine society try to interpret this to mean separation of politics and religion, which isn't good (and not really possible anyway as secular religion takes the place of Christianity).
Best way is living the gospel by example
As a young Evangelical fresh out of Diapers in the 1990s I watched my Childhood Hopes stolen from me. Now as a Latterday Saint I cant say my desire for Divine Wrath has subsided, but I've taken solace in the fact that they reap what they sow....Fertility rates are Dropping...may we have 10 Children. Highly unlikely seeing as God recently chose to bless us with One Child, but I consider that Living Righteously is the best Revenge. Haha Vape Pens, Scantily Clad with Tar encrusted Fingers....ah but even so we ought to remember the Story of the Prodigal Son.
The interviews I take in the best are those that are 1 hour or less. This guest is obviously smart and the subject is decent but it’s just too long. Because of that, it goes off on some side paths that are disengaging.
Totally agree
America lost the culture war in 1844 by rejection of Joseph Smith Jr
Even though I agree with Paul on many points, I don't like it when he hints at who he talked to (aurhority)and does not give a perfect quote in context with permission.
Fair point. In the book, I cite the names of General Authorities when my commentary is positive. When my commentary is negative, I write "a senior church official." I admit in the Preface of the book that my memory will not be exact at 67 years old and 40 years of career...and I ask for grace. As far as "permission" goes, I don't need anyone's permission when providing context to make a point. I am happy to address specifics if you have them...either during the interview or in my book.
I've never heard about the restrictions placed on the church as a result of tax exempt status. I would love to learn more about that. Maybe the subject of another podcast episode?
"Invite people into your homes, but never go into others' homes." That is interpreted in Utah as, "Billie isn't allowed to play with non-mormons". "My kid cant go to your house because we dont trust your kind, but our house is available to host a sleepover."
There are many people I wouldn't trust my trust kids to have a sleepover, in and out of the Church.
Great discussion!
I suppose Noah thought he had lost the culture war, untill the rains came and the flood silenced the voices of the nasty and the profane forever.We may not be popular, but the Lord has never lost a battle or a war.Soddom is a heap of burned out ruins and King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were erased ,and were no more.Take courage, these people who oppose the things of God are nothing but dust and eventually, their hatred will be no more, they will be swept off, and not be found.
View the cover of my book. A bishop chess piece fallen but its kingly shadow standing. Yes, Jesus Christ wins in the end.
Please move to Saratoga Springs…5th ward
It was such an interesting conversation
Glad you enjoyed it.
I agree that we are in bondage because of the tax exempt status.
Ew. I remember henry waxman. The guy was evil personified. Skelator.
I’ll continue being a Libertarian who believes the war is far from over.
As I write in my book, if you are a Libertarian, you are on the wrong side. Libertarians are simply the progressive Right, in my opinion. Little different than the progressive Left -- both of which choose to worship the cult of personal autonomy.
I really liked this one
I am struggling with a lot of what he is saying. He just sounds very arrogant and judgmental. I am very conservative and strong in my LDS faith and I found him very pessimistic and not real motivating.
Love your show very much.
Did you listen all the way to the end? I like what he said about immigration and how his views about it changed.
Many people who know me feel the same way as you do. :) All I can tell you in relation is that what I write in my book is true. I have a good friend...a progressive radio personality in Utah...who once said the thing he hates most about me is that I think I'm right about everything. He's right...even when I grow and change opinions. :) When Greg said what we were talking about was very pessimistic, I replied that we were actually very hopeful about the picture we were painting. Yes, the rains have come, but we have an ark for comfort and safety (i.e. our homes and the House of the Lord).
I still don't think the guest has quite gotten to the core of the problem. Every viable human society and institution is conditioned by history, custom, and tradition, and thus legal systems were traditionally based on the ethical traditions of the dominant religion. The new ideology that was born in the so called Enlightenment has replaced religious particularism with abstract human reason as the foundation for law. Consequently, you get assumptions of individualism and cosmopolitanism (or universalism if you prefer that word), which are opposite sides of the same coin. The ambition was to create a new system of government and law that is derived from something that is common to all mankind, that is, a least common denominator, and there is just not enough human cultural commonality to do that, so we get a new moral order based on the individual and that creates an unsustainable social order in which many individuals, because they are allowed to, make maladaptive choices, and eventually this maladaptive individualism (or "autonomy" if you prefer) infects more and more people. Maximizing individual liberty ("personal autonomy") is as maladaptive as maximizing social control by a central authority. Sustainable and harmonious societies find a happy medium somewhere between the two extremes. We have to make the case that history and culture matter, and that the legal system must be compatible with the dominant religious tradition.
Isn't that how Trump succeeded finally. By inviting people into his world? or at least his vision on his world MAGA
Essentially, after listening to this what I'm hearing is you are on your own. Stay close to God cuz the church isn't going to be there to have your back. They are compromised.
You're a good listener. As long as the church clutches its tax exemption, it is controlled to a certain degree by Babylon. The church can choose to be independent from the world, just as we can choose to be individually.
The phrase “home-based, church supported” was the first indication that I had as a newly married man that in the coming days, we would be more and more on our own. Since then, I have come to realize that Brother Joseph was trying to prepare the saints for this clear back in his day. We are meant to know how to receive revelation and stand in holy places. We must still sustain the brethren, and listen with our hearts to their words, but if you aren’t implementing these things in your own home, you will fall.
WELCOME TO PARTY!! GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT 🎊🎊
The body is not a prison?….yet everyone who dies (and lives to tell about it) experienced profound knowledge, painlessness, love, joy OUTSIDE of this “veil of tears” state of mortality. I don’t know…sounds/feels like a prison to me. We’re limited by everything from circadian rhythms to viruses to lies and delusions, to needing to eat. Disease, genetics, foolish mortal economics, and this isn’t a prison? Convince me, because my body is succeeding at convincing me otherwise. Someday, not to be weak, frail, limited, not to be mortal.
You misheard the quote. He said the opposite. That the soul is the prison to the body.
I've been saying that for years. The church gave up on standards and we are left with chaos. The church flinched and lost. Do better.
The way I look at it if the church has its responsibility in Salt Lake and you and I have ours.
@@CwicShow the church has the responsibility to the world...to stand as a witness of God at all times, places and things, even unto death. If we are to follow our leaders examples then lead as Jesus would. Teach the word by example.
Joseph saved Egypt and its neighbors, yet he was under pharoah.
The church has to be trusted to operate under this and many governments until Christ comes again.
@davidp8854 Jesus never said to trust the church. He said that we must judge our leaders and if they do/do not do what he called out then you'll know if your leaders our honorable or not. We are not in a cult. We do not blindly follow. Our church needs to do better.
Defeated is a good title. He sounds so defeated, but he is not my favorite guest. Worth listening to, but i disagree.
The book includes a lengthy chapter discussion with friends of mine who strongly believe there is still a public culture war to fight. They are wrong.
Who understands the new and everlasting covenant of marriage? Really? What are the rites of marriage? What are all the laws of marriage? Who has taught any of this over the pulpit? Where can any of this be found in the published correlated materials of the church?
Not one of my favorite guests but some good points were made
Humanity is wonderful. But when we kill millions of babies in the womb. When we give jobs to those who are unqualified but have the "right skin color" or "sexual preference". when the country is deluged with millions of immigrants who have no way to care for themselves and are given all the benefits of those already here then there is chaos.
No one is against abortion to save a mothers life, or for someone who was raped. No one is against someone of a different color and sexual preference if their ideals don't hurt us. No one is against immigration when it's done orderly and doesn't strain the system and citizens. All of this causes chaos and lack of order.
So if you go 10 miles over the speed limit it's likely not a danger. But if you go 40 miles over then it's excess and dangerous. And THAT is why some laws are necessary. For those who don't have the common sense to avoid excess and who want to keep order. And I'm one who greatly dislikes silly laws like seat belt laws.
Sorry.... don't like this guy.
1:11:11 I totally agree! Gathering Israel. Building Zion. Strengthening our families. Those are the priorities. Not academics. Not politics. Not athletics. Not entertainment. Those are all great and fun. But they're aren't the priority.
One of the quotes my parents had framed on our wall was the one about a family reading the Book of Mormon everyday would have the spirit of the Lord in the home more. Lds of the Spirit of contention. I think it was Marion G. Romney. President Romney said that parents should read the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly with their children. He believed that this would fill the home with the spirit of the book, increasing reverence, respect, and consideration. He also believed that this would lead to increased righteousness, faith, hope, and charity, and ultimately to peace, joy, and happiness.
Holding onto the rod through the mists of darkness and persecution from the great and spacious building, which is the pride of the world.
We can start at any moment and not lament the past. There are plenty of Christian academic programs that adults of all ages can study and teach youth and teens. They want to know about relationships, chastity, respect, marriage, love for children and being attentive to their development and moral formation. I think the LDS may have taught this but am not sure as it was not my faith. Catholics are still "pro-life" regarding supporting marriage, children, family. Being parents and have teaching and communities to support this. But they are intimidated by the Protestant prejudice against them, so they keep to themselves.
He’s absolutely right that the church protects itself, the corporation, and leaves the members to fend for themselves
That's not what he said. He was specific on the LGBTQ/Freedom of Religion issue.
@@CwicShow And further..as long as the church clings to its tax-exempt status, we should not want it to help us...because what drags it down only drags us down too.
Cottage meetings
Yes. Thank you!
How do you spell Paul’s last name?
Mero
Thank you. I saw Mero & tried & google him. Didn’t see much so I assumed it was a misspell. Happy Holidays
RMN and a few of the apostles are Libs, so...
Greg @CwicShow, you ask "what should we do, how should we fight" in this culture war? You have a deep sense of healthy "duty". Correctly framing the question is vital. Duty to what? Answer: To the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. How much of my duty? Answer: All of it. But what about my duties to [my country, my ethnic group, my ___]? Answer: When you are the best member of the Church of Jesus Christ, you are by definition, automatically the best member in any other domain. Being thus properly anchored, and only then, can we correctly act or be "anxiously engaged". As members, our loyalty is to the Kingdom of Christ, and none other. We covenant all our time, attention, tithes, duties, what we are and will be, to building up the kingdom. We become "representative agents" (as Elder Bednar teaches) promoting the will, purposes, objectives of Christ and His Church, subjecting any personal agendas or will to HIs. So, I ask again, what is your duty?
BTW, Greg I think you're doing great at all those things as a member (I've watched all your content). I just heard you ask the right question but I didn't quite hear the direct, clear answer. For example, Paul is right to say don't go to enemy territory but instead "invite others to come to Zion". But he never explicitly anchored his answer to a governing "why" principle. Maybe he thought it was self evident but for most, it's not it seems.
Two hour and three minute video are just too long. TLDW. Too long didn’t watch.
Man I tried. I can’t take this man seriously with his condescending comments. I know libertarians that would run circles around this guy on political philosophy.
His premise about liberty vs freedom is nonsensical. Just a bare naked assertion.
He’s just rehashing all the old 80’s/90’s conservative talking points…and ya know man, there’s a reason you lost.
The problem was involving The State in trying to create your conservative society. Leviathan will corrupt everything every time.
Paul Mero was a horrible person to deal with if he didn’t like or agree with a dissenting perspective when it came to Utah politics. I can’t tell you how many times he and the Eagle Forum would paint those that disagree with them as evil and unfaithful members of the church. I have ZERO respect for Paul.
I'm sorry that I do not remember you. Many people share your opinion of me.
What a narcissist!