Ravening wolves are amongst us...

[Army Of Truth]

In General Conference of 1972, Ezra Taft Benson made a speech entitled "Civic Standars for the Faithful Saints" in which he suggested a few books to read. Some books that he recommended were "Prophets, Principles, and National Survival (Jerreld L. Newquist), Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen (H. Verlan Andersen), and The Elders of Israel and the Constitution (Jerome Horowitz)." However, in most online versions of his talk, it omits his recommendation of Gary Allen's book "None Dare Call it Conspiracy". Here is the full quote in the talk:

There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon - it is a conspiracy fact. And along this line, I would highly recommend to you a new book entitled “None Dare Call It Conspiracy” by Gary Allen.

In the lds.org version of the talk, his recommendation is completely omitted; here:
lds.org

Here is an audio of his talk with his now "hidden" recommendation:
http://www.awakeandarise.org/Benson.htm
(Go to his "Civic Standards for The Faithful Saints" talk and click on "Download short excerpt mp3")

Why was this omitted? Was this omitted because this book unveils the NWO too clearly and the "wolves amongst us" had to censor this lest too many members become awakened?

“The ravening wolves are amongst us, from our own membership, and they, more than any others, are clothed in sheep's clothing because they wear the habiliments of the priesthood. …We should be careful of them.” – J. Reuben Clark, Conference Report, April 1949, p. 163

[lundbaek]

Ezra Taft Benson was an Apostle at the time. My guess is that his statement "There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon - it is a conspiracy fact. And along this line, I would highly recommend to you a new book entitled “None Dare Call It Conspiracy” by Gary Allen." was possibly considered too much meat and/or liable to provoke retaliation against the Church even back in 1972.

In mulling over this sort of thing, it helps to know that "Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen" by H. Verlan Andersen was, as a few of us here heard the current copyright holder tell us, taken out of print at the request of some Church authority. We were left to speculate on the reason.

[lundbaek]

I think certain elements of the LDGs may be watching us closely. I am a bit surprised that the Church has not asked us to discontinue criticism of government and government officials.

Orson F. Whitney, in "The Life of Heber C. Kimball", on Pg. 442, stated something to the effect that the time would come when the government would stop the Saints from holding meetings.

[Army Of Truth]

Good point, lundbaek. Too much "meat" from many of our previous prophets will only get our church into too much trouble with our own government because it points too clearly to who is responsible for this "great satanic conspiracy".

This answers the question that many members ask me when I try to wake them up - "Why doesn't our prophet tell us about these cover-ups/conspiracies". I, of course, always tell them - "They already have". I also tell them that the Lord can only lead us to the water, He will not make us drink it. He never has. It is up to us to exercise our agency correctly.

[Proud 2b Peculiar]

I have a question. I previously have thought that "many are called, but few are chosen" referred to the priesthood duties only.

I recently was asked to take a leadership role, and when praying about it I was given that phrase. I read about it, and I see how those characteristics make a good leader.

Do you think that this can still some how apply to me, even though I am not a priesthood holder?

This is a political position I am asking about.

[Chip]

I just read another book by Gary Allen from 1986 called Say "No!" to the New World Order.

This was the last of Gary Allen's projects and it is the most hard-hitting book I've read so far about exactly who has been instrumental in bringing about the NWO, how they've done it, and what their goals are. It's a narration around hundreds of quotes from the people involved, almost all of whom were (and many still are) influential towards the federal government, if not directly employed by it - all the way up to the top. I don't know how this book could be improved. It makes an undeniable case. And being published 21 years ago, I really see clearly that the NWO agenda has advanced, practically unimpeded since then, just as it had through the decades preceding publication.

Things are really stacked against Americans, with our lying media and deceptive politicians. We have been misled to the point of imminent destruction.

[truthseeker]

I have a question. I previously have thought that "many are called, but few are chosen" referred to the priesthood duties only.

I recently was asked to take a leadership role, and when praying about it I was given that phrase. I read about it, and I see how those characteristics make a good leader.

Do you think that this can still some how apply to me, even though I am not a priesthood holder?

This is a political position I am asking about.

The principles related to many being called and few being chosen I think can apply outside the priesthood and church callings:

If your heart aspires to the honors of men and the things of this world, it negatively effects your ability to serve others since you will be focusing on yourself and not those who you should be serving.

Some of the symptoms of this vain ambition are listed:

1. Hiding or covering ones own sins
2. Gratification of pride
3. Trying to control others

A true leader serves others, a tyrant serves his or her own self interest.

The good traits listed:

1. persuasion
2. long suffering
3. gentleness
4. meekness
5. love unfeigned
6. kindness
7. pure knowledge
8. without guile
9. full of charity
10. virtuous

These principles can apply to anyone. While the principles apply anywhere, I believe the "many called, few chosen" part discusses how the Lord chooses. From my perspective, the world, on the other hand, often chooses those who cover their sins, gratify their pride, and try to control others through coercion and unrighteous dominion.

[Proud 2b Peculiar]

Well, I definitely did not aspire to this position, others want me to take it.

I have no experience, but I want to do what is right and want to stand for liberty, so I think I am going to do it.

[truthseeker]

Good luck. By the way the "you" and "your" in my message above didn't refer to "you" LoveChrist, but to someone in general.

[Proud 2b Peculiar]

I figured that. But thank you for that clarification anyway.

[ithink]

We're hitting at the root of what is going on right here.

... was possibly considered too much meat and/or liable to provoke retaliation against the Church even back in 1972.

In mulling over this sort of thing, it helps to know that "Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen" by H. Verlan Andersen was, as a few of us here heard the current copyright holder tell us, taken out of print at the request of some Church authority. We were left to speculate on the reason.

I'm a bit hesitant to add a comment here because I am including two controversial quotes I've picked up on the web. I have not been able to verify either of them. If anyone can, please do.

"Brigham Young at the Provo, Utah Bowery Conference in 1867 "Brethren, this Church will be led onto the very brink of hell by the leaders of this people. Then God will raise the one mighty and strong spoken of in the 85th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, to save and redeem this church."

The second quote:

As related by H. Verland Anderson, Spencer W. Kimball in a closed priesthood session with the leaders asked, "Brethren, why are we not being persecuted? I'll tell you why! We have been infiltrated from within to the very highest levels."

First off, Brigham does not mention any leaders names (whew) -- and neither do I!! This is warping it a bit, but to err on the side of safety, let the record show I'm not calling anyone out here except myself (ie. is it I? and/or what more could I do). But I will mention that the Saviour was betrayed by one of his own. Is it not always the case?

Secondly, we know from Alma 4 that if we are not careful, we as a people might become a problem unto ourselves, which might cause our leaders to have to make never ending compromises to keep the ship afloat (like removing certain books out of print and replacing with other Establishment books -- like Harry Potter).

And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges; and the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church; and thus the church began to fail in its progress.... Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he saw also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people.

So who is it that Alma is saying are actually responsible for the destruction of the people? (the people!? -- of the church )

The Apostles, in Matthew 19, asked why Moses allowed divorce when it was clearly not allowed. The Saviour replied, "Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. " This is the story of this world, with the people drifting away and the Lord accommodating them as much as possible to keep the ship afloat, but in the end, they (we) will have to answer for it. This is the same principle given in Section 56: "Wherefore I, the Lord, command and revoke, as it seemeth me good; and all this to be answered upon the heads of the rebellious, saith the Lord. "

What I'm saying, is that if we are being led as Brigham says (I can hardly say it), could it be that we have only ourselves to blame? Again, it is the same way Moses was not to blame for allowing divorce -- the people did it to themselves by their own hard hearts and He allowed his leader to give the people what they wished for. This is exactly the same thing the children of Israel did when they asked for and were given a King. Even though the Lord said no, He allowed them to have it, and in doing so they also got everything that comes with it.

Finally, I'll end with the parable of the unjust judge:

Now, unto what shall I liken the children of Zion? I will liken them unto the parable of the woman and the unjust judge, for men ought always to pray and not to faint, which saith— 82 There was in a city a judge which feared not God, neither regarded man. 83 And there was a widow in that city, and she came unto him, saying: Avenge me of mine adversary. 84 And he would not for a while, but afterward he said within himself: Though I fear not God, nor regard man, yet because this widow troubleth me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 85 Thus will I liken the children of Zion. 86 Let them importune at the feet of the judge; 87 And if he heed them not, let them importune at the feet of the governor; 88 And if the governor heed them not, let them importune at the feet of the president; 89 And if the president heed them not, then will the Lord arise and come forth out of his hiding place, and in his fury vex the nation; 90 And in his hot displeasure, and in his fierce anger, in his time, will cut off those wicked, unfaithful, and unjust stewards, and appoint them their portion among hypocrites, and unbelievers; 91 Even in outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. 92 Pray ye, therefore, that their ears may be opened unto your cries, that I may be merciful unto them, that these things may not come upon them. 93 What I have said unto you must needs be, that all men may be left without excuse; 94 That wise men and rulers may hear and know that which they have never considered; 95 That I may proceed to bring to pass my act, my strange act, and perform my work, my strange work, that men may discern between the righteous and the wicked, saith your God.

The summum bonum is that I believe we are led by our leaders in many cases where we want to be led in some sort of weird feedback loop. Yes, we might have been infiltrated, and the Lord will not fix that until we are ready to have it fixed -- and a big part of that is waking up and doing our homework on history, being specific Christians, and by taking responsibility for ourselves to not be deceived -- and by not voting for Romney just because he's Mormon, and not for Paul because he's not.

I yearn constantly for the people to wake up, stop trusting in the arm of flesh. Is this not the stone cut out of the mountain without hands? If we take the Lord at his word, will He allow us to be destroyed? He has said He will use fire to preserve the righteous if he as to! How long halt ye (all members at large) between two opinions?

ithink

[Mark]

You are treading on potential thin ice here ithink and your insinuations will only lead you further into speculations that will weaken your faith and your trust in the Lords annointed servants. I have met many who harbored your speculations in a very strong way and they concluded in their own minds that the Lord was going a different direction than with those who were chosen to lead this church today. They now live in Manti or other communities and have prayer alters in their homes and sit around discussing multiple mortal probations and who really is the Holy Ghost.

Be very careful where you let your speculation take you. This is said in respect and concern and not in condemnation. The adversary will do whatever he can to take you over the edge. The Lord is in charge of his ship and He has who He needs at the helm to lead it in a correct manner. The united voice of the prophets will not lead the Saints astray. If you hear mass disunity among the quorum then you can begin to start speculating. So far I have heard none. Leave the speculating to those that want to get burned in the stock market.

[SwissMrs&Pitchfire]

Interesting assessment ithink. I had not heard those quotes, but it is inevitable that they would be (in part at least) true.

I share your reservations Mark in that if we allow ourselves to speculate about it we may be led to question counsel. But we are to accept every word as if from the mouth of the savior (letting accountability for that fall upon the heads of those who offer it). The Lord will not permit the church to be led too far out of the way, so everything has to be seen as being for our own good.

I do wait to see the manifestation of the key that won't rust in our day, and I believe it won't be long in coming. But if we follow the prophet (or as is particularly timely at this moment,) the majority of the twelve, we will not be led astray!

Harold B. Lee counseled with this prophecy:

“We have some tight places to go before the Lord is through with this church and the world in this dispensation, which is the last dispensation, which shall usher in the coming of the Lord. The gospel was restored to prepare a people ready to receive him. The power of Satan will increase; we see it in evidence on every hand. There will be inroads within the Church. … We will see those who profess membership but secretly are plotting and trying to lead people not to follow the leadership that the Lord has set up to preside in this church.

“Now the only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet, ‘as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; … as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.’ (D&C 21:4-5.) There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. … But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.’ (D&C 21:6.)” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1970, p. 152.)

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “I will give you a key that will never rust, if you will stay with the majority of the Twelve Apostles, and the records of the Church, you will never be led astray.”

Notice he does not even mention the prophet. I believe the crisis will come in a time such as now while we are without a prophet. Follow this council!

[shadow]

Follow the majority of the 12 AND the records of the church. It's interesting that he would say the majority of the 12. Technically there are 15. Without a prophet, like we see now, there are 14. I wonder about the presidency (prophet and his 2 counselors) in the future.
I found comfort in Joseph Smith's comment about following the records of the church. Certainly that would mean the church some how splits.

[ShawnC]

Jacob 4 is perfect for this...

13 Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.
14 But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble.
15 And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto prophesying; for I perceive by the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that by the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation.
16 But behold, according to the scriptures, this stone shall become the great, and the last, and the only sure foundation, upon which the Jews can build.

I agree with Mark, it is so easy to go down the road to apostasy. Part of the law of obedience is that we humbly accept the current course and direction from our leaders, as the current pattern and organization that the lord is using. I know the people in Manti, and this is exactly how they think. Satan got them to "look beyond the Mark". My brother is in that church and he claims to be living such a higher law, but cannot even grasp simple christian principles sometimes, or even be a decent father to his family.

That being said, I am intrigued by your BY comment...

"Brigham Young at the Provo, Utah Bowery Conference in 1867 "Brethren, this Church will be led onto the very brink of hell by the leaders of this people. Then God will raise the one mighty and strong spoken of in the 85th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, to save and redeem this church."

I read a lot of Gileadi and he speaks a lot of this. What do others know or think of this "Arm of the Lord", or "Servant like unto Moses", that is supposed to raise up?

Shawn

[SwissMrs&Pitchfire]

To read section 85 it stands out to me that "that man" in verse 8 is a specific apostate "leader."

7 And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in aorder the house of God, and to arrange by blot the cinheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God;
8 While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning.

It clearly singles out following the records repeatedly too.
(vs. 4,5&9)

vs. 7 is intriguing. Moses was called a deliverer, our Moses will come in like manner. It is a type and a shadow of things to come.

Follow the prophet and/or majority of the twelve, the records of the church, and obey the counsel given. That is sufficient to not be led astray in the thing.

Burying ones head and not addressing it, is not.

[ShawnC]

To read section 85 it stands out to me that "that man" in verse 8 is a specific apostate "leader."

7 And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in aorder the house of God, and to arrange by blot the cinheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God;
8 While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning.

It clearly singles out following the records repeatedly too.
(vs. 4,5&9)

vs. 7 is intriguing. Moses was called a deliverer, our Moses will come in like manner. It is a type and a shadow of things to come.

Follow the prophet and/or majority of the twelve, the records of the church, and obey the counsel given. That is sufficient to not be led astray in the thing.

Burying ones head and not addressing it, is not.

I am confused by...

Follow the prophet and/or majority of the twelve, the records of the church, and obey the counsel given. That is sufficient to not be led astray in the thing.

Burying ones head and not addressing it, is not.

Please elaborate.

[Mark]

Shawn you are in a very unique position in your background of understanding that of which I speak about concerning the subtle ways in which Satan can lead us into forbidden paths. It starts quite innocently with a quest for knowledge and can turn south at the blink of an eye.

I have learned that to speculate about last days events concerning splits in church leadership is counterproductive to my spiritual growth and development in the knigdom. I listen to the prophets and see only unity and faith in guiding the kingdom in a righteous manner and that is good enough for me at present.

I do not want to be some armchair quarterback who thinks he knows more than he does. I do not sit in the counsels of the church and participate in the daily affairs of the kinddom nor am I privy to the personal revelation received by the brethren in the mantles of leadership that they have been given. To start summising this or that in relation to things I know nothing of personally is the height of stupidity to me and I think is just prideful and arrogant to do so.

Many prophets in this dispensation have promised us that the kingdom will be preserved and that the leadership will not lead us astray if we are humble and follow their united counsel to us as a body. Those that have done so since Joseph were protected and stayed true to the faith. We are no different and are suceptible to all the adversries crap just like they were in times past.

[ShawnC]

Shawn you are in a very unique position in your background of understanding that of which I speak about concerning the subtle ways in which Satan can lead us into forbidden paths. It starts quite innocently with a quest for knowledge and can turn south at the blink of an eye.

I have learned that to speculate about last days events concerning splits in church leadership is counterproductive to my spiritual growth and development in the kingdom. I listen to the prophets and see only unity and faith in guiding the kingdom in a righteous manner and that is good enough for me at present.

I do not want to be some armchair quarterback who thinks he knows more than he does. I do not sit in the counsels of the church and participate in the daily affairs of the kingdom nor am I privy to the personal revelation received by the brethren in the mantles of leadership that they have been given. To start surmising this or that in relation to things I know nothing of personally is the height of stupidity to me and I think is just prideful and arrogant to do so.

Many prophets in this dispensation have promised us that the kingdom will be preserved and that the leadership will not lead us astray if we are humble and follow their united counsel to us as a body. Those that have done so since Joseph were protected and stayed true to the faith. We are no different and are susceptible to all the adversaries crap just like they were in times past.

Agreed Mark. Thank you for your strength. I also feel that I have been blessed to be able to have the perspective that I do sometimes. I see many angles of the Church and Kingdom and how the Lord operates today, and am exceptionally grateful for that. I wholeheartedly agree with sticking with the leadership. To assume that we know more is to assume that the Lord no longer trusts the stewardship given to church leaders and that it now is up for grabs so to say. My brother has expressed a few doubts about his apostate church down there to me on occasion. But he is so deep into it and has gotten older that I think he feels there is nowhere else to go. He seems to make excuses and finds reasons as to why he is right instead of really seeking for humility and guidance from the Spirit to do the Lords will. Sound familiar?

On the part about this latter day servant. I am interested to learn what any may know or think about this "doctrine". Please elaborate anyone?

Shawn

[HeirofNumenor]

7 And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in aorder the house of God, and to arrange by blot the cinheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God;
8 While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning.

The One Mighty and Strong was Joseph Smith. The man in v. 8 was Bishop Edward Partridge, to whom the revelation was aimed, who was in Missouri, doing things opposite what the Lord had Joseph instruct the Saints to do.

[Shoemaker]

Be very careful where you let your speculation take you.

You mean like speculating in the Saturn theory?

[cjex]

So I'm not from Utah and don't really even know where Manti is, don't care either but I didn't know what ya'll were talking about so I searched...



File: LDS.press

The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Nov 1992 Sunday Edition, Page A1

IT'S JUDGMENT DAY FOR FAR RIGHT: LDS CHURCH PURGES SURVIVALISTS

by Chris Jorgensen and Peggy Fletcher Stack

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is purging hundreds of
Mormon dissidents who church officials say are preoccupied unduly with
Armageddon.

This massive housecleaning may be one of the church's largest since the
1850's, when thousands were excommunicated for everything from poor
hygiene and low church attendance to disobeying the Ten Commandments.

In recent months, Mormons from Utah, Nevada, Arizona and Idaho have been
expelled and many others have been threatened. Numbers are impossible to
determine because excommunication records are guarded closely.

Don LeFevre, LDS spokesman, would not confirm that mass excommunications
are unfolding. However, he did say LDS Church leaders increasingly have
been concerned about ultraconservative "super patriots" and survivalists,
many of whom have quit their jobs and moved their families to mountain
retreats.

Those interviewed by _The Salt Lake Tribune_ say they have faced church
discipline for a range of transgressions - from having too much emergency
food storage to adhering to the doomsday predictions of popular Mormon
presidential candidate Bo Gritz, who received more than 28,000 Utah votes
in the November election.

Targeted are those obsessed with the early speeches of LDS Church President
Ezra Taft Benson and who believe the ailing, 93-year-old leader has been
silenced because his opinions no longer are politically popular.

"We support President Benson 100%," says Elaine Harmston, who was excommun-
icated from her Manti ward last month with her husband, Jim. "He has warned
us thoroughly. But there are some brethren who speak 180 degrees against him."

LDS Church leaders worry that some members are taking too literally state-
ments made decades ago by Elder Benson before he became president.

In a recent speech, Elder Malcolm Jeppson, a member of the Second Quorum of
the Seventy who oversees the Utah-South region of the church, urged Mormons
not to "take out of context words and statements made by church presidents
that were given at a different time and circumstance than the present."

He urges Mormons "walking on the fringes of our faith to seek the safety of
the center."

At the church's October general conference, LDS apostle Boyd K. Packer
cautioned members about falling for the survivalist line. "Do not be
deceived," he warned, by those "who have not been regularly ordained by the
heads of the church, who tell of impending political and economic chaos,
the end of the world - something of the 'sky is falling.' ...they are
misleading members to gather to colonies or cults."

LDS Church leaders from central and southern Utah complained of such
"troublesome ideologies" during a Nov 13-14 meeting at the Edgemont Stake
Center in Provo. Elder Jeppson outlined a profile of dissidents. Stake
Presidents have used that profile to compile a list of warning signs.

There is a lot of concern about some things that are going on," says
Harold Nicholl, one of six Sanpete County stake presidents using the list
as a guide for excommunications.

Among activities sounding the alarm at stake houses across the West:

o The practice of home schooling.
o Having leanings or membership in the John Birch Society.
o Holding study groups.
o An inordinate preoccupation with food storage.
o Reading doomsday books and other material unapproved by the church.
o People who sell their services of gospel understanding for money.
o Quoting the exact day of the coming of Jesus Christ.
o Performing temple ordinances outside the temple.

To some, the list contradicts church standards. For decades, Mormons have
been urged to store food for an emergency. The church always has insisted
that members follow the president, whom the faithful believe is a prophet.

By the new standards, "President Benson wouldn't even be allowed to stay
in the church," says a prominent Utah Mormon, referring to the leader's
association with the ultraconservative John Birch Society.

The profile apparently was used to finger Elaine and Jim Harmston. "Our
stake president said, 'You cannot discuss the gospel in your own home with
anyone except your own family or you will be excommunicated,' " says Elaine
Harmston. "That was something we couldn't go along with."

But it was more than scripture study that upset the Harmstons' Mormon
leaders. The couple continue to teach and practice a special form of
prayer prohibited outside Mormon temples.

Several weeks ago, the Harmstons' bisphop read an open letter to the
congregation warning them to stay away from the Harmstons' study group or
risk discipline.

The next week, more people attended the study group than ever,
Mr. Harmston claims. "There are thousands of people hungry for the truth and
they're tired of the pablum they're getting from the church," he says.

As the study group swelled, Manti church leaders began surveillance on the
Harmstons' home, taking down visitors' license-plate numbers. The visitors
were later called in for interviews by LDS leaders, says Mrs Harmston.

Larry Garmoth believes that's how he got caught. "It's a small town," he
explains. "Everyone knows what everyone else's car looks like."

Mr Garmoth says he was interviewed by his stake president and told not to
associate with the Harmstons. Within weeks he was demoted from his security-
guard job at the Manti Temple to groundskeeper.

LDS church officials feared Mr. Garmoth was letting apostates into the
temple after hours to perform clandestine religious rituals - a charge
Mr. Garmoth denies. "My guts are just torn out because of the stupidity
of this thing," he says.

Another church mamber in nearby Fairview says he was threatened with
excommunication for having too much food in storage. "I was told that
one year's worth of food storage is enough and anything more is excess,"
says the lifelong Latter-Day Saint, who asked not to be identified.

He says he amassed a huge cache of food to help other church members
during a crisis. "I haven't done anything I haven't been told to do by
the prophet."

The extreme actions taken by LDS Church leaders indicate their sense of
urgency in squelching the survivalist movement among their ranks. No fewer
than three LDS general authorities spoke directly to fringe Mormons at
the October conference.

Apostle M. Russell Ballard told members "not to overreact" to signs that
the end of the world is near. He cautioned against being "caught up in
extreme preparations."

While the church is focusing on the ultraconservatives for now, Elder
Jeppson also has counseled stake presidents to watch out for feminists
who advocate women holding the priesthood and pray to a Mother in Heaven.
He also warns of intellectuals who challenge the origins of the _Book of
Mormon_ and church authority.
=30=

Boston Globe, Nov. 30, 1992:

MORMONS ALLEGE CHURCH THREATS

Salt Lake City -- Ultraconservative Mormons say they are being warned and
excommunicated by church leaders who do not approve of their religious and
political views, the Salt Lake Tribune reported yesterday. Presidential
candidate Bo Gritz, leader of an ultraconservative political movement, says
he is among those who have been warned. Don LeFevre, spokesman for the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, declined to say whether mass
excommunications are under way, but he said curch leaders have been
concerned about ultraconservatives and survivalists, many of whom have quit
their jobs and moved their families to mountain retreats. (AP)
=30=

[ShawnC]

So I'm not from Utah and don't really even know where Manti is, don't care either but I didn't know what ya'll were talking about so I searched...



File: LDS.press

The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Nov 1992 Sunday Edition, Page A1

IT'S JUDGMENT DAY FOR FAR RIGHT: LDS CHURCH PURGES SURVIVALISTS

by Chris Jorgensen and Peggy Fletcher Stack

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is purging hundreds of
Mormon dissidents who church officials say are preoccupied unduly with
Armageddon.

This massive housecleaning may be one of the church's largest since the
1850's, when thousands were excommunicated for everything from poor
hygiene and low church attendance to disobeying the Ten Commandments.

In recent months, Mormons from Utah, Nevada, Arizona and Idaho have been
expelled and many others have been threatened. Numbers are impossible to
determine because excommunication records are guarded closely.

Don LeFevre, LDS spokesman, would not confirm that mass excommunications
are unfolding. However, he did say LDS Church leaders increasingly have
been concerned about ultraconservative "super patriots" and survivalists,
many of whom have quit their jobs and moved their families to mountain
retreats.

Those interviewed by _The Salt Lake Tribune_ say they have faced church
discipline for a range of transgressions - from having too much emergency
food storage to adhering to the doomsday predictions of popular Mormon
presidential candidate Bo Gritz, who received more than 28,000 Utah votes
in the November election.

Targeted are those obsessed with the early speeches of LDS Church President
Ezra Taft Benson and who believe the ailing, 93-year-old leader has been
silenced because his opinions no longer are politically popular.

"We support President Benson 100%," says Elaine Harmston, who was excommun-
icated from her Manti ward last month with her husband, Jim. "He has warned
us thoroughly. But there are some brethren who speak 180 degrees against him."

LDS Church leaders worry that some members are taking too literally state-
ments made decades ago by Elder Benson before he became president.

In a recent speech, Elder Malcolm Jeppson, a member of the Second Quorum of
the Seventy who oversees the Utah-South region of the church, urged Mormons
not to "take out of context words and statements made by church presidents
that were given at a different time and circumstance than the present."

He urges Mormons "walking on the fringes of our faith to seek the safety of
the center."

At the church's October general conference, LDS apostle Boyd K. Packer
cautioned members about falling for the survivalist line. "Do not be
deceived," he warned, by those "who have not been regularly ordained by the
heads of the church, who tell of impending political and economic chaos,
the end of the world - something of the 'sky is falling.' ...they are
misleading members to gather to colonies or cults."

LDS Church leaders from central and southern Utah complained of such
"troublesome ideologies" during a Nov 13-14 meeting at the Edgemont Stake
Center in Provo. Elder Jeppson outlined a profile of dissidents. Stake
Presidents have used that profile to compile a list of warning signs.

There is a lot of concern about some things that are going on," says
Harold Nicholl, one of six Sanpete County stake presidents using the list
as a guide for excommunications.

Among activities sounding the alarm at stake houses across the West:

o The practice of home schooling.
o Having leanings or membership in the John Birch Society.
o Holding study groups.
o An inordinate preoccupation with food storage.
o Reading doomsday books and other material unapproved by the church.
o People who sell their services of gospel understanding for money.
o Quoting the exact day of the coming of Jesus Christ.
o Performing temple ordinances outside the temple.

To some, the list contradicts church standards. For decades, Mormons have
been urged to store food for an emergency. The church always has insisted
that members follow the president, whom the faithful believe is a prophet.

By the new standards, "President Benson wouldn't even be allowed to stay
in the church," says a prominent Utah Mormon, referring to the leader's
association with the ultraconservative John Birch Society.

The profile apparently was used to finger Elaine and Jim Harmston. "Our
stake president said, 'You cannot discuss the gospel in your own home with
anyone except your own family or you will be excommunicated,' " says Elaine
Harmston. "That was something we couldn't go along with."

But it was more than scripture study that upset the Harmstons' Mormon
leaders. The couple continue to teach and practice a special form of
prayer prohibited outside Mormon temples.

Several weeks ago, the Harmstons' bisphop read an open letter to the
congregation warning them to stay away from the Harmstons' study group or
risk discipline.

The next week, more people attended the study group than ever,
Mr. Harmston claims. "There are thousands of people hungry for the truth and
they're tired of the pablum they're getting from the church," he says.

As the study group swelled, Manti church leaders began surveillance on the
Harmstons' home, taking down visitors' license-plate numbers. The visitors
were later called in for interviews by LDS leaders, says Mrs Harmston.

Larry Garmoth believes that's how he got caught. "It's a small town," he
explains. "Everyone knows what everyone else's car looks like."

Mr Garmoth says he was interviewed by his stake president and told not to
associate with the Harmstons. Within weeks he was demoted from his security-
guard job at the Manti Temple to groundskeeper.

LDS church officials feared Mr. Garmoth was letting apostates into the
temple after hours to perform clandestine religious rituals - a charge
Mr. Garmoth denies. "My guts are just torn out because of the stupidity
of this thing," he says.

Another church mamber in nearby Fairview says he was threatened with
excommunication for having too much food in storage. "I was told that
one year's worth of food storage is enough and anything more is excess,"
says the lifelong Latter-Day Saint, who asked not to be identified.

He says he amassed a huge cache of food to help other church members
during a crisis. "I haven't done anything I haven't been told to do by
the prophet."

The extreme actions taken by LDS Church leaders indicate their sense of
urgency in squelching the survivalist movement among their ranks. No fewer
than three LDS general authorities spoke directly to fringe Mormons at
the October conference.

Apostle M. Russell Ballard told members "not to overreact" to signs that
the end of the world is near. He cautioned against being "caught up in
extreme preparations."

While the church is focusing on the ultraconservatives for now, Elder
Jeppson also has counseled stake presidents to watch out for feminists
who advocate women holding the priesthood and pray to a Mother in Heaven.
He also warns of intellectuals who challenge the origins of the _Book of
Mormon_ and church authority.
=30=

Boston Globe, Nov. 30, 1992:

MORMONS ALLEGE CHURCH THREATS

Salt Lake City -- Ultraconservative Mormons say they are being warned and
excommunicated by church leaders who do not approve of their religious and
political views, the Salt Lake Tribune reported yesterday. Presidential
candidate Bo Gritz, leader of an ultraconservative political movement, says
he is among those who have been warned. Don LeFevre, spokesman for the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, declined to say whether mass
excommunications are under way, but he said church leaders have been
concerned about ultraconservatives and survivalists, many of whom have quit
their jobs and moved their families to mountain retreats. (AP)
=30=

Yes, I remember this, my brother was part of this purge, only in about 1995. There are quite a number of break offs from the church, most of them along the Wasatch Front.

Shawn

[ShineOn]

cjex, that's a very interesting article. I've noticed that people kind of treated me like that before, when the signs of problems in the country were less apparent. The better everything seemed, the more reluctant people were to listen, and some people mixed in spiritual stuff I think a little too much (like the Roger K. Young, tent cities, etc).

So it's like obvious to semi-intelligent people that there really is a problem with the economy and that we really were lied to about WMDs and yes the voting machines are insecure (I just saw an article that Rush Limbaugh problems voting on one, ha ha!). So now people are feeling that recognizing, fighting against, and preparing for hard times because of all these problems are ok, that you don't need a dream or something to tell you that we as a country are in danger.

I've had issues with the dreams and near death experiences for this reason. They also seem to make everything so fateful (determined by fate). But when I read about Henry Knox and the American Revolution and other people that fight from their liberty, that's what really motivates me. I try to get people invovled not because I think we are gong to all be killed by a massive earthquake (which totally could happen, it's just not my motivation), but rather that the system is breaking down because of "natural" causes that I can point out an explain. So I'm not "warning" anyone or causing them to go astray. I have no secrets or special impressions. No visions. Just politics, economics, history, etc. It's been a dangerous and lonely road for awhile, but finally people are starting to see that this country has got problems and if you want to remain free, you'd better get your own act together, then work with others to get us back on course.

On Edit: I just wanted to add that I don't mean to downplay people's visions or dreams or other spiritual experiences regarding things in the future. I just don't use those for my own motivation or for convincing others. I'm fully aware of people's dreams of the fate of the US, and they are consistent with what can happen if there's a system breakdown. But I personally don't have anyone particular notion of how things wil go. That usually messes up my ability to correctly understand things going on now.

[SwissMrs&Pitchfire]

That's it, my kids are going to public school, I'm gonna go buy a cookie cutter house in happy valley and sign up for Amway, Swiss and I are going on a few meds along with the kids, maybe we'll "have some work done" too. Then it's off to lease a Lexus and go apply at Franklin Covey and Nuskin. We really need to downsize the food storage too so we can make room for the new entertainment center where we'll watch every pg-13 movie made and half of the stake approved R movies.

Safely in the center lulled away into everlasting bliss.

All is well in Zion, I just read it in the paper.