Has China Abandoned Communism?

Has China abandoned Communism? Of course not: http://bit.ly/HGUlA Of course I’ve been saying this since 1988: http://bit.ly/ckppW

Dissent Continued: The M.O.

by Steven Montgomery

http://www.ldsfreemen.com/steven-montgomery/dissent-continued-the-m.o.html

In my previous article I wrote about how the Secret Combinations in the Book of Mormon justified their wars with the Nephites and of capturing control of Nephite government by appealing to the wrongful Lamanite tradition that it was Nephi who had usurped their “right to the government,” and that they, the Secret Combinations, were simply trying to restore that right. I then compared this “right to the government” appeal to the claims of modern day Marxism which also seeks, according to them, to restore this right to them, so that they can then implement their perfect, classless Communist utopia. This article will examine deeper some of the aims, methods, tactics, and strategies–the modus operandi–if you will of the Secret Combinations in the Book of Mormon and attempt to draw parallels to our modern day society.

I’ve extrapolated the following verses from scripture, in sequential order, which deal in some way with how the Secret Combinations operated in the Book of Mormon:

Alma 8:17; 10:27; 30:6-53; 43:29,45; 46:4-7, 10; 47:4,8,18,24,30,35; 48:1,7; 51:2,5-8, 13; 62:9-10 61:4;

Helaman 1:7-12; 2:1-14; 3:23; 4:22; 6:17-41; 7:4-5, 25; 8:1-4,7; 10:6,11; 11:10,26

3 Nephi 1:27; 2:11-12, 17-19; 3:1-26; 6:21-30; 7:1-2; 9:9

4 Nephi 42

Mormon 8:27

Ether 8:9-26; 9:5-6

A great benefit of understanding can be gained by studying the above verses, either sequentially as I have listed them, or topically, or for an examination of literary structure or patterns, parallels, etc., or in various other study methods. What should not be overlooked in these various study methods is to simply study and examine how Secret Combinations operated among the Nephite and Jaredite civilizations. Let me share with you two insights I’ve gained by studying in this manner.

At the end of King Mosiah’s reign, the reign of the Judges was established. An integral part of this newly arranged state of affairs among the Nephites was the firm establishment of law, known as the “laws of Mosiah” (see Mosiah 29). Although the laws were in his name, Mosiah had been given the laws by God himself, who had commanded him to set them up among the people (see Helaman 4:22).

It is important to understand that by thus setting up God’s laws, the greatest amount of freedom would prevail among the people. For a detailed examination why see here.

The first insight therefore is that the “laws of Mosiah,” which were the basic building blocks of Nephite civilization, became a major focus of attack by the Secret Combinations. For instance, Alma was told by an “angel of the Lord” that there were those who sought to “destroy the liberty” of his people “contrary to “to the statutes, and judgments, and commandments” of Mosiah’s laws” (see Alma 8:14-17) and Amalickiah, a leader of the “dissenters” (see my previous article here) sought to destroy the “foundation of liberty” which was the laws that “God had granted unto them” (see Alma 46:10).

To accomplish this aim of destroying the law, the Secret Combinations sought to change “a few particular points of the law” so that a Kingship might be restablished “over the land” (see Alma 51:2,5) and that they sought to set at “defiance the law and the rights of their country” so that  “that the land should no more be at liberty but should be subject unto kings” (see 3 Nephi 6:30).

The second major insight is that the “dissenters,” Gadianton Robbers, or Secret Combinations, always sought control of the government for themselves. Mormon goes to great lengths, for instance, to convince us that these Secret Combinations sought:

• to overthrow Nephite government and “establish a kingdom unto themselves (Alma 43:29)
• power and authority among the people (Helaman 2:5)
• power and authority over the people (Alma 51:8)
• to gain power (Helaman 2:8)
• to fill the judgment seats (Helaman 7:4)
• to obtain the sole management of the government (Helaman 6:39)
• to be held in office at the head of government (Helaman 7:5)
• to establish a king over the land  (3 Nephi 6:30)

Later Mormon’s son Moroni explains that it was these secret combinations among the Nephites and Jaredites which led to the destruction of both of these civilizations.  And then Moroni warns us of a similar secret combination exisiting in the last days which would seek power and to overthrow the “freedom of all lands, nations, and countries” (see Ether 8:23-25).

Modern Prophets and Apostles have also warned us. Elder Bruce R. McConkie took special pains in his book, The Millenial Messiah, to note that the secret combination which Moroni was so adamant in warning us about was “one particular secret combination” which was a worldwide conspiracy–and so not merely a gang, the Mafia, or some other criminally focused secret combination. It would be “entrenched in many nations” and it would seek “dominion over all nations” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millenial Messiah, p. 65-66). President Ezra Taft Benson testified that this particular secret combination would be “highly organized,” “cleverly disguised,” and “powerfully promoted” and that it was seeking to increase its “evil influence and control over America and the entire world” (President Ezra Taft Benson, General Conference, October 1988).

To sum up then, the secret combinations in the Book of Mormon develeloped a two prong attack:

1. Overthrowing or corrupting the law
2. seeking to gain total control of the government

Since Moroni saw our day (Mormon 8:34-35), maybe we should take serious the advice given by President Ezra Taft Benson as we study the Book of Mormon. That is to “constantly ask ourselves” as we study the Book of Mormon, “Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni, or Alma) to include that in his record?” (Ezra Taft Benson, CR, October 1986, Ensign, November 1986, pgs. 6-7) Maybe its just possible that we might be part of that group which will bring the constitution (the law) back from the “brink of destruction” and “verge of destruction” as well as be the “staff upon which this nation shall lean” (Ezra Taft Benson, The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner, Deseret Book, 1986, p. 27-28).

Next Article: Exposing the Enemies of Christ: An examination of Alma 30.

Secret Combinations: Examining the Dissent

Here is a much better edited version of my article (with the same name), which was primarily a rough draft, posted yesterday here on Heavenly Banner but now posted at www.ldsfreemen.com:

Secret Combinations: Examining the Dissent

Secret Combinations: Examining the Dissent

By Steven Montgomery

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

Connor Boyack pointed out the problem in his excellent article, “The Problematic Inward Vessel.” A major point made  that it was Nephites, dissenting Nephites, and not Lamanites per se, who were responsible for inciting the Lamanites to go to war against the Nephites.

Additionally Connor points out [emphasis is mine]:

Time and time again, individuals and groups from within the Nephite nation aspired for power, and when they couldn’t obtain it by force or persuasion, broke away from the group and through various means incited the Lamanites to riot and war against them. In light of the view these details present, the reader soon learns that the Lamanites in many cases were mere pawns in a war of propaganda, corralled and controlled by power-seeking authoritarians. Many of the examples above explain in specific detail the deceit and propaganda used to sway an otherwise neutral Lamanite populace.

But these dissenting Nephites didn’t just attempt to manipulate Lamanite opinion out of the blue. Much Insight can be gained by studying the Lamanite claim to legitimate power and authority, and by understanding that their claim went all the way back to Laman and Lemuel’s quarrel with Nephi–which was over the right to rule:

Yea, they did murmur against me, saying: Our younger brother thinks to rule over us; and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us slay him, that we may not be afflicted more because of his words. For behold, we will not have him to be our ruler; for it belongs unto us, who are the elder brethren, to rule over this people.  –2 Nephi 5:3

Later in the Book of Mormon this original claim recurs 3 more times:

1. “[The Lamanites believed that Nephi] had taken the ruling of the people out of their hands.” –Mosiah 10: 12, 15

2. ” For behold, your fathers did wrong their brethren, insomuch that they did rob them of their right to the government when it rightly belonged unto them . . .  And behold now, I am a bold Lamanite; behold, this war hath been waged to avenge their wrongs, and to maintain and to obtain their rights to the government; and I close my epistle to Moroni.” –Alma 54: 17, 24

3. “And I write this epistle unto you, Lachoneus, and I hope that ye will deliver up your lands and your possessions, without the shedding of blood, that this my people may recover their rights and government, who have dissented away from you because of your wickedness in retaining from them their rights of government, and except ye do this, I will avenge their wrongs. I am Giddianhi.”–3 Nephi 3:10

So why did Mormon feel it necessary to include this “right to rule” claim in the Book of Mormon? I posit that Marxism seems to offer a perfect parallel here. For it is the basic doctrine of Marxism that a state of war exists which primarily revolves around this “right to rule.”  As Dr. Fred C. Schwarz explained it:

What is Marxism-Leninism?  Stripped to its barest essentials, Marxism is the doctrine of the universality of class warfare, and Leninism is the doctrine of the historic role of the Communist Party to consummate the universal class war in world Communist victory.  The basic doctrine of Marxism-Leninism is that a state of war exists and that the Communist Party has been created to win this war.  The war was originally discovered, not declared, by Karl Marx.  It is between two classes of society which he called the proletariat and the bourgeoisie.  The bourgeoisie is the class of property ownership, the class that owns the means of production.  The proletariat he defined as the class of wage labor.  Between these two classes, Marx claimed to discover a state of war .  The bourgeoisie desires profit; the proletariat desires high wages.  If wages go up, profits come down.  If profits go up, wages come down.  Thus there is a fundamental conflict between these two classes.  This conflict Marx called the class war.

Marx taught that the bourgeoisie is the established class in Capitalist society.  It has created the State as an instrument to oppress and exploit the proletariat.  In reaction the proletariat creates the Communist Party to wage war against the State.  Thus the class war manifests itself as war between the Communist Party and the State.  With the progress of history, the Communist Party has come to power in Russia, China, and Eastern Europe.  The bourgeoisie remains in power in America and her associated allies.  Thus the class war has transferred itself from the national to the international plane.  The fundamental doctrine of Marxism, therefore, is that Russia and America are at war; that China and America are at war— not that they could be at war; not that they might be at war; not that they will be at war; but that they are at war.  This war is historically declared; it is universal; it encompasses every aspect of society; in it there can be no vestige of truce.  The Communists did not choose it; they simply recognized it.  Their duty is to prosecute the war to total and complete victory. (Dr. Fred C. Schwarz, You Can Trust The Communists: To Be Communists, chapter 1.)

In the 1999 movie, “Wild Wild West,” the U.S. President (Grant) played by Kevin Cline, stated a couple of lines which is germane to this whole discussion of dissent and this Marxist state of war which exists. Upon President Grant being surprised that the arch-villain had been planning for and waging war against the United States he stated: “I didn’t know that we were at war. You have me at a great disadvantage.”

At this moment a similar war is being waged against the United States of America. A war in which prevailing ignorance of its existence has put our country at a similar disadvantage. It is time to “awake” and arouse” ourselves to a sense of our “awful situation” (see Ether 8:24).

—–

Next week this “Secret Combinations” series continues with a look at the aims, methods, strategy, tools, etc., used by the Secret Combinations in the Book of Mormon.

Perestroika in the United States

Interesting. Gorbachev Calls on Obama to carry out “Perestroika” in the U.S.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081107/118196981.html

Especially interesting in light of Perestroika’s Marxist-Leninist underpinnings.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Crete/4516/gp/Glasnost-Perestroika.html
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Crete/4516/gp/Glasnost-Perestroika1.html

Fighting for Freedom

Here’s a great article by J. R. Nyquist on Russia and the rule of law (or its absence).

Global Analysis – J. R. Nyquist “Fighting for Freedom” 04/11/2008

Forces for Freedom and Tyranny: Bliss Tew’s Course of Study

by Steven Montgomery

A while back (on a friends blog) I posted my “best books” list which was geared towards understanding: freedom; the U.S. Constitution and its principles; the free-market and the monetary system established by our founding fathers; and the various enemies or threats against liberty and freedom. Bliss Tew, a good friend of mine and regional coordinator of the John Birch Society (for the state of Utah), compiled his own “best books” list on the same topics. Here is Bliss Tew’s list:

1. The Constitution — The Founding Fathers
2. The Declaration of Independence — 56 Founding Fathers
3. The Federalist Papers –Hamilton, Madison, Jay
4. The Anti-Federalist Papers — Other Founding Fathers with concerns about deficiencies in the Constitution
5. The Lives of The Signers of the Declaration of Independence — Lossing
6. And not a shot is fired — Jan Kozak
7. The Communist Manifesto — Karl Marx
8. Final Report On The Bombing Of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, April 19, 1995 — The Oklahoma Bombing Investigation Committee
9. Architects of Conspiracy — William P. Hoar
10. Inside the United Nations– A Critical Look at the UN — Dr. Steve Bonta
11. The French Revolution — Nesta H. Webster
12. Reflections on the Revolution in France, Edmund Burke
13. Fire in the Minds of Men — James H. Billington
14. The Illusion of Victory — Thomas Flemming
15. Betrayed — Dr. Joseph D. Douglass, Jr.
16. Red Cocaine: The Drugging of America and the West — Dr. Joseph D. Douglass, Jr.
17. Day of Deceit — Robert Stinnett
18. Foundations– Their Power and Influence, by Rene A. Wormser (Covenant House Books, 1958)
19. The Black Book of Communism — Crimes , Terror, Repression, by Stephane Courtois, Nicolas Werth, Jean-Louis Panne, Andrezej Paczkowski, Karel Bartosek, and Jean-Louis Margolin. Translated by Jonathan Murphy and Mark Kramer. (First published in French. The English edition: Harvard University Press, 1999)
20. Reds In America , by R. M. Whitney, first published in 1924. (1970 edition, Western Islands Publishing)
21. The Venona Secrets — Exposing Soviet Espionage and America’s Traitors, by Herbert Romerstein and Eric Breindel. (Regnery 2000)
22. Global Tyranny …Step by Step, The United Nations and the Emerging New World Order, by William F. Jasper (Western Islands 1992)
23. The United Nations Exposed– The Internationalist Conspiracy to Rule the World, by William F. Jasper (The John Birch Society, 2001)
24. Secrets Records Revealed, by Dennis Laurence Cuddy, Ph.D. (Hearthstone Publishing, Ltd., 1994)
25. Biographical Dictionary OF The Left, Volume I & II, by Francis X. Gannon
26. Teddy Bare- The Last of the Kennedy Clan, by Zad Rust
27. The Lincoln Conspiracy, by David Balsiger and Chatles Sellier, Jr. (Schick Sunn Classic Books 1977)
28. The Insiders– Architects of the New World Order, by John F. McManus (Fifth edition, 2004)
29. William F. Buckley, Jr.– Pied Piper for the Establishment, by John F. McManus (2002)
30. Changing Commands- The Betrayal of America’s Military, by John F. McManus (1995)
31. Financial Terrorism– Hijacking America Under the Threat of Bankruptcy, by John F. McManus (1993)
32. Freedom on the Altar– The UN Crusade Against God & Family, by William Norman Grigg (1995)
33. The Prince, Niccolo Machiaveli (Mentor Book, 1952. First published 400-years ago)
34. America’s Secret Establishment — An Introduction to The Order of Skull & Bones, Antony C. Sutton (Liberty House Press 1986)
35. The Rise of The House of Rothschild, by Count Egon Caesar Corti (Cosmopolitan Books 1928)
36. J. Reuben Clark– Selected Papers, (5 volumes, BYU Press) compiled by David Yarn
37. The Year of the Rat– How Bill Clinton Compromised U.S. Security for Chinese Cash, by Edward Timperlake and William Triplett, II
38. The Secret Life Of Bill Clinton — The Unreported Stories, by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard (Regnery 1997)
39. Philip Dru: Administrator, by Col. Edward Mandel House (1912)
40. Tragedy & Hope – A History of the World in Our Time, by Dr. Carol Quigley (Macmillon Co. 1966, 1347 pages)
41. The Valachi Papers, by Peter Maas (1968)
42. The Holy Bible
43. The Book of Mormon