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Connor the Cynic

Posted by Connor on August 11th, 2006
Cynical Connor

Dustin commented on a recent post that he thinks I’m a cynic.

Am I?

While my beliefs and attitudes might come off as cynical, I don’t think that they’re unfounded. I had been preparing a post after a scripture study this past weekend to explain just this (i.e., why I believe what I believe re: the government and secret combinations) but these few citations should suffice for now:

And unto you it shall be given to know the signs of the times, and the signs of the coming of the Son of Man; (D&C 68:11)

We need to be on the watch for the “signs of the times”, which are becoming ever more evident day by day.

Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up. (Ether 8:23-24)

And seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gadianton robbers filling the judgment-seats—having usurped the power and authority of the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright before him; doing no justice unto the children of men;Condemning the righteous because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because of their money; and moreoverto be held in office at the head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world, and, moreover, that they might the more easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills. (Helaman 7:4-5)

We always talk about how the Book of Mormon was written for our day. If that’s the case, and if the Book of Mormon is laden with examples of the secret combinations within (and without) the government overthrowing both the Nephite and Jaredite civilizations, doesn’t that mean the same will happen to ours? Yes. Take, for example, this verse:

And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written (D&C 84:57)

What are we supposed to remember about the Book of Mormon? Is this implying that we have to read it half an hour a day or else remain under condemnation? No. It means we have to remember what it teaches us. And what, pray tell, does the Book of Mormon teach us, better than any other book?

Could it be that it teaches us about secret combinations?

We often talk about the “plain and precious” things that were taken out of the Bible. All too often this is interpreted as the Bible having been doctrinally watered down. Yes, that’s true. However, I would ask the studious scriptorian: Does the Bible make a single mention of the title “secret combination”? Is there anywhere in the Bible that we are warned against these organizations and powers? Odd, wouldn’t you say…? Coincidence? No way.

So, am I a cynic? Yes. Do I have reason to be? Yes, and so should you.

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6 comments so far. Care to chime in?

Should I?

My dear young friends, don’t partake of the spirit of our times. Look for the good and build on it. Don’t be a “pickle sucker.” There is so much of the sweet and the decent and the good to build on.

You are partakers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel means “good news.” The message of the Lord is one of hope and salvation. The voice of the Lord is a voice of glad tidings. The work of the Lord is a work of glorious and certain reward. I do not suggest that you simply put on rose-colored glasses to make the world look rosy. I ask, rather, that you look above and beyond the negative, the critical, the cynical, the doubtful, to the positive.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

A very good article by President Hinckley: http://www.lds.org/pa/library/0,17905,4880-1,00.html

I hate to speculate, but after reading that article I dare say President Hinckley does not feel there is a big 9/11 conspiracy. I think he of all people on this earth would have a clue about that.

Was the Book of Mormon written for our day? Of course! But do you really believe it was mainly written to warn us of modern day Gadianton robbers? I hardly feel that is the overriding theme of the Book of Mormon. Instead, I think it proclaims the Savior, and speaks of missionary work and preparation for His return.

Take a look at some of the numbers I put together some years ago on this page: http://dustin.davisvillage.com/BOMthoughts.html

#1 Dustin Davis | August 11th, 2006 1:38 PM

I dare say President Hinckley does not feel there is a big 9/11 conspiracy.

On the contrary, I have heard that President Hinckley is aware of the secret combinations (Illuminati, Luciferianism, CFR, Bilderbergers, etc.) that exist today. Also, W. Cleon Skousen has said that Pres. Benson (who was very, very aware about this stuff) used to give lessons to the 12, and to some of the 70 as well.

But I think you can be aware of these things, and still find light, truth, hope, joy, and peace in the world. Just today I read an article on KSL that talked about a little league team deciding to not play on Sundays. Little things like that show that there is plenty of good in the world (even though if you read the comments on that article, you’ll see plenty of criticism and opposition).

I think there can be a balance between “awaking and arising to our awful situation” and being the optimist Pres. Hinckley encourages us to be. My blog is a place for me to vent my frustrations with world affairs, point out problems I see, and inform others of the same. There are other mediums in which I focus more on expressing my testimony, faith, gratitude, and love.

But do you really believe it was mainly written to warn us of modern day Gadianton robbers?

I never said that it was mainly written for this. I simply said that it does this far better than any other book, especially the Bible. I fully agree with you that it proclaims the Savior and his atonement. It also does this better than the Bible, and that’s why we love it as much as we do. My point was, however, is that (as Benson frequently mentioned) it is a crucial tool for our understanding the detriment and toxicity that secret combinations can have on a nation.

#2 Connor | August 11th, 2006 2:01 PM

Pres. Benson (who was very, very aware about this stuff) used to give lessons to the 12, and to some of the 70 as well.

I’m paraphrasing here, but Hugh B. Brown and a couple other apostles once said, “Elder Benson should be praised for his desire to fight for what he believes. Unfortunately, the things he believes are pretty whack.”

#3 the narrator | August 11th, 2006 7:03 PM

I wouldn’t expect that all of the church leadership would be aware of, or believe in, this stuff. They receive pertinent revelation and guidance on matters pertaining to the church, and I’m sure the prophet will be told what to do (if and when necessary) to warn the saints about these things.. but it sounds perfectly reasonable to me that some, even apostles, would consider this stuff “pretty whack”. Heck, I do too…

#4 Connor | August 12th, 2006 12:55 PM

Benson’s relocation to Europe was understood by most of the Twelve as a banishment to get him to shut up.

#5 the narrator | August 12th, 2006 8:59 PM

I wonder where that’s written?

#6 Russell Page | August 15th, 2006 10:08 AM

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