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.”

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.

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