discerning the signs of the times 2.0

n my previous Mad State post, we discussed those, especially “Christians” who have been unable or unwilling to discern “the signs of the times” that tRUMP represents. The sign, similar to that that Jonah represented to the Ninevites, and Jesus represented to Judah, served as a warning that destruction was imminent absent repentance on the part of the two respective nations. Today, we follow up with the absence of discernment concerning the latest sign, suggest Book of Mormon parallels, and call for a serious reckoning. 

There have now been multiple reports that are consistent with the following.
 
“One of the organizers of the violent attempted coup, Ali Alexander, claimed in a now-deleted video that he specifically had help from members of Congress in planning the breach that killed five people. Alexander names three Trump-friendly Congress members who he says helped him plan the ‘Stop the Steal’ mob: Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Alabama), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Arizona) and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Arizona).
 
“According to Alexander, the four of them wanted to place ‘maximum pressure on Congress’ while they were certifying the Electoral College vote and ‘change the hearts and the minds of Republicans who were in that body, hearing our loud roar from outside.’
 
“Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) has also come under fire in recent days for a tweet that partially revealed the location of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) while the violent Trump supporters were in the Capitol building. ‘The Speaker has been removed from the chambers,’ Boebert tweeted.
 
“Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) tweeted in reply that ‘we were specifically instructed by those protecting us not to tell anyone, including our family, where exactly we were.’ Evidently, Boebert had been specifically instructed not to post on social media during the breach, according to Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-California), but defied those instructions.”[1]
 
Additional reporting suggests that some of the insurrectionists who entered the Capitol Building intended to capture and execute those they deemed to be disloyal to their dear leader, tRUMP—Pence and Pelosi chief among them.
 
“Rioters who stormed the United States Capitol during the count of the state-certified Electoral College vote intended to ‘capture and assassinate elected officials in the United States Government,’ federal prosecutors said in court documents filed late Thursday.
 
“The contention is the latest and most alarming claim from law enforcement addressing the threat posed by the mob.”[2]
 
All of this caused me to think of the most famous “reconnaissance” tour recorded in the Book of Mormon. It is the story of the marvelously named, Kishkumen. You will remember that upon the death of the long-time and faithful chief judge, Pahoran I, there was ferocious competition among his sons as to who would replace him in the judgeship. The “voice of the people” eventually chose Pahoran II. However, one of his brothers, Paanchi, and a group of his most loyal followers, refused to accept the “voice of the people.” Sound familiar? Maybe this will sound familiar as well. Paanchi [read tRUMP] was taken to be tried for insurrection and treason.
 
Enter Kishkumen.
 
“Now when those people who were desirous that he [Paanchi] should be their governor saw that he was condemned unto death, therefore they were angry, and behold, they sent forth one Kishkumen, even to the judgment–seat of Pahoran, and murdered Pahoran as he sat upon the judgment–seat.”[3]
 
Because Kishkumen disguised himself, he managed to go undiscovered—I am sorry, but I can’t quite get the image of Kishkumen dressed in drag out of my head. He “and his band, who had covenanted with him, did mingle themselves among the people, in a manner that they all could not be found: but as many as were found were condemned unto death.”[4]
 
We come, now, to our famous reconnaissance. Our “tour de force.” Just two years later, after a short but deadly civil war, Helaman II sat in the chief judgeship. Once more, enter Kishkumen, who sought a reprise of his former inglorious assassination. Again, this will all sound eerily familiar.
 
“But behold, Kishkumen, who had murdered Pahoran, did lay wait to destroy Helaman also; and he was upheld by his band, who had entered into a covenant that no one should know his wickedness. For there was one Gadianton [read tRUMP], who was exceedingly expert in many words, and also in his craft, to carry on the secret work of murder and of robbery; therefore he became the leader of the band of Kishkumen. Therefore he did flatter them, and also Kishkumen, that if they would place him in the judgment–seat he would grant unto those who belonged to his band that they should be placed in power and authority among the people; therefore Kishkumen sought to destroy Helaman.”[5]
 
In order to carry out his treacherous mission, Kishkumen identified a government insider, who, he believed, was a fellow true believer in overthrowing “the voice of the people.” After Kishkumen “gave unto him a sign,” this unnamed government insider, with Kishkumen at his side, crept toward Helaman’s “secure location.” Having ascertained that “it was his [kishkumen’s] object to murder, and also that it was the object of all those who belonged to his band to murder, and to rob, and to gain power, (and this was their secret plan, and their combination), this faithful civil servant, “did stab Kishkumen even to the heart, that he fell dead without a groan.”[6]
 
I need not belabor the point. My point is clear.
 
Members of congress who are found to have in any way plotted to assist, however innocently or guiltily, the murderous insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol Building must be charged, tried, convicted, and punished. This must be conducted in the most public of manners. They are the modern-day equivalent of the Book of Mormon’s Kingmen, the Book of Mormon’s Gadianton robbers.
 
And, yes, tRUMP is the modern day equivalent of Amlici, Amalackiah, and Gadianton all wrapped up in one. Like Gadianton, tRUMP and his hordes—both inside and outside of government—if left unchecked, undiscovered, and unpunished will “prove the overthrow, yea, almost the entire destruction of the people”[7] known as Americans. He must be publicly ridiculed and punished in such a way as to never again have any influence whatsoever.
 
The traitorous and murderous insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol Building along with those who are yet planning more seditious mayhem must be found, arrested, tried, convicted, and punished to the extend that they never again mingle with any free citizen. This, too, most be conducted in the most public and humiliating way possible.
 
Finally, and sadly, I must speak of so-called Christians, including any of my fellow Mormons, who continue to support tRUMP, America’s Caligula, Amlici, Amalackiah, and Gadianton all rolled into one. I must speak of all so-called Christians, including any of my fellow Mormons, who speak in any way in defense of the murderous insurrectionists who threaten our country and all that is good and right. These false “Christian” co-conspirators must be dealt with. Leaders of the LDS Church can take the lead and show the way. “The word of God should be declared among them, yea, and… a regulation should [must] be made throughout the church.”[8] No matter how much precious tithing money it costs, Church leaders must be sure that
 
 “those that [will] not confess their sins and repent of their iniquity, the same [will] not [be] numbered among the people of the church, and their names [will be] blotted out.”[9]
 
Because their hearts are hardened, they should be “remembered no more among the people of God.”[10] This is sad. Those I have considered friends will be among those blotted out if they will not confess their guilty and repent. But this is as it must be. I will not sit in a pew with them and pretend that they did not support murderous thugs and insurrectionists who intended the assassination of government leaders in order to enthrone a deviant and devilish tRUMP. How could a church, any church, including one that bears the name of Jesus Christ, have supporters of murder on their roles? How can they have fellowship with those who bear such murder in their hearts?
 
God forbid. It cannot be.
 
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
 

[1] “GOP Reps Accused of Giving ‘Reconnaissance’ Tours of Capitol Before Mob Attach,” Sharon Zhang, truthout.org.
[2] “Capitol rioters meant to ‘capture and assassinate’ elected officials, federal prosecutors say,” Matthew Brown, usatoday.com
[3] Helaman 1.9
[4] Helaman 1.12. I am in no way shape or form in favor of the death penalty. Dressing the guilty in cheap, uncomfortably chaffing orange jump suits and having them live in cages the rest of their lives is sufficient punishment for my tastes. Let their conniving minds go to much watching T.V. all day every day.
[5] Helaman 2.3-5
[6] Helaman 2.8-9
[7] Helaman 2.13
[8] Alma 45.21
[9] Mosiah 26.36
[10] Alma 1.24