Editorial
Mormons, Romney and the White Horse Prophecy
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney could become the first Mormon president of the United States. Questions about how a candidate's religious faith may impact his presidency are always a topic of discussion during campaign season but when the candidate belongs to something other than an established mainstream American Church, people are more curious.
The vast majority of Americans have been mostly unfamiliar with the history or teachings of the Mormon Church so a little investigation seems warranted. The Church has an interesting history and some rather odd teachings when compared to those of Protestant Christianity.
Founded in 1830 in the United States by its first prophet, Joseph Smith, the LDS Church is now the fourth largest denomination in the United States, with some 14 million members. Because of its early promotion of polygamy, belief that it is the only true Church based on the model established by Jesus and its inclusion of the Book of Mormon as a scripture in addition to the King James Bible, Americans have not been particularly accepting of Mormonism. Add to that the mystery surrounding Temple worship, which is not open to the public, and it becomes evident why Americans have questions about their potential next president.
There is one piece of information I find particularly interesting, given everything unfolding in the United States at the moment. Before his death, Joseph Smith supposedly issued the White Horse Prophecy, which stated that at some time in the future of the United States, evil men and secret combinations would combine to destroy liberty, freedom and free agency in the United States. It is true that we do see this happening today by secretive power elites, politicians and the Federal Reserve.
This prophecy claimed that through political or educational actions Mormons would see the Constitution hanging by a thread and rescue the Constitution and nation from strife, evil control and destruction. Many in the Church support this prophecy while the leadership today backpedals from such an extreme statement.
Somehow, we can't see Mormon GOP candidate Mitt Romney as the leader to rescue this nation from destruction as he has far more in common with the wealthy power elites on domestic issues and with Obama on foreign policy than a man out to fulfill a questionable 160-year-old prophecy to save America and the Constitution.
So is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day just another vibrant institution created by a charismatic leader to later fall victim to an institutional bureaucracy? Is it like thousands of other religions, political movements and belief systems that rise up, moderate to expand and later join the establishment system to control people, capture wealth and expand its power base? Is it just like all other bureaucracies?
Most religions, like politics and other institutional endeavors, all too often begin with the best of intentions but later morph into something very close to what they were opposed to in the first place. Therefore, I'm not supporting or opposing the Mormon Church. But if the White Horse Prophecy is to be believed, at least Joseph Smith was either inspired or guessed right about the US Constitution. It is indeed hanging by a narrow thread and I don't care who saves America or the Constitution, even with all its carefully crafted defects.
Millions of devout Christians believe we are in the last days, or to use the Mormon term, the "Latter-Days," before Jesus Christ returns to the Earth. Likewise, millions of Shi'ite Muslims in Iran and elsewhere believe the Mahdi, the ultimate savior of humankind and the final imam of the Twelve Imams, is about to return.
I know my private and personal beliefs and I question if the White Horse Prophecy is real or accurate. But I do know, dear readers, beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are in the last or latter-days of the American Empire. Prepare and get ready, for this will not be pleasant; most empires go down quickly in war, economic calamity and destruction.
So if someone is going to ride in on a white horse to save America and much of the world from a horrible future, he or she had better get here quickly. Personally, I believe individual human action, free-market thinking and an end to elite institutions like central banking, fiat money and our closed political system is the best solution.
But heck, I'll take anybody, including Mitt Romney, who can lead the people of the US and the world away from the one-world control of the elites and the terrible future they have planned for us. Still, I question the premise that we through a controlled monopoly political system depending on the will of a propagandized, illiterate majority and voting can save America. But my money would be on Tom Woods, Jesse Ventura or another leader not yet in the spotlight rather than the establishment-supported, empty philosophical suit that is Mitt Romney.
This is not a slam at Romney, as all leading politicians are only out to win elections and maybe this is the nature of the system today, though not the intent of our founding fathers. Romney appears to be a very spiritual person, a moral family man and a successful business leader and I admire all of this.
But for me, it's all about the corrupt system and neither Romney nor Obama can change it. They are only the front men without power or real opportunity to oppose the power elites who use the government as a tool to expand their wealth, control and power over us.
Until then, while I'm waiting for the slight chance the Mormon prophecy is true and a man on a white horse will lead us to victory, I'm using my individual human action as described by Ludwig von Mises to safeguard my family, friends and readers from a frightening future and wait for 2016.
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Posted by jemesouviens on 10/07/12 02:55 PM
As to whether or not the cited "White Horse Prophesy" is true or has elements of truth to it, the New Testament holds a key good enough for so many interested in finding truth, including Joseph Smith, and I find it helpful in this case: James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God."
I'm LDS and an avid supporter for Ron Paul, Austrian Economics, and Human Action. Many of the replies here and indeed the article itself reminds me how much we have to grow individually and culturally to really take advantage of the resources that the world can reveal via the Internet; we all learn in different ways, being open to it is a choice. The throwing out of common sense due to some drama or zealous tidbits is like me tripping over myself trying to dutifully apply some applications of Ron Paul's, only to realize I didn't understand the underlying principle. Ron Howard's article seems a little misplaced with the caliber usually found at the 'Bell, (thankfully he grounds himself to Human Action and while I empathize with his anxiety everything else can be chucked!) I'm glad to know at a new level we're all human here (and we're all in the same boat)! That being said, I hope we all are found doing good should we find ourselves meeting the Savior sooner than expected because of that extra double-glazed doughnut rather than being able to count-down with precision like that of Y2K.
'No one knows anything about Christ's work simply by being born a member of the Church, and often he knows little about it after years of unmotivated exposure in meetings or classes. He must learn. And learning involves self-investment and effort. The gospel should be studied 'as carefully as any science.' The 'literature of the Church' must be 'acquired and read.' Our learning should be increased in our spare time 'day by day.' Then as we put the gospel truth to work in daily life, we will never find it wanting. We will be literate in the most important field of knowledge in the universe, knowledge for lack of which men and nations perish, in the light of which men and nations may be saved' -Elder Marion D. Hanks, First Council of the Seventy, 'Theological Illiterates', Improvement Era (September 1969): 42
Here are a random list of resources that might help those interested in having more concrete sources for our 'latter-days':
1. The official 'Mormon'/LDS site: Click to view link
2. Joseph Smith Papers: Click to view link
3. LDS self-reliance/preparedness resources: Click to view link provident living Click to view link
4. studies by Hugh Nibley Click to view link (many works/lectures free by general internet search, but for this subject, try 'Preemptive War' in historical application to our current events, using records/lessons from the Book of Mormon http://youtu.be/EbcP1tETASI [pt 1 of 2]).
5. Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research (FAIR) Click to view link
6. Book of Abraham Project Click to view link
7. Joel Skousen (not spokesman for Church, but is involved/vocal on current affairs. Has a registered/paid site, but a large amount of free info on his site with lectures on youtube and the internet. Click to view link
8. Lectures on Faith - A compilation of lectures also not among official LDS doctrine that can give hopefully a clearer perspective both how LDS "doctrine" is selected, and how there is much good information is available that ultimately will rest on the individual to determine how to act upon said information. (Try applying both Human Action and James 1:5, both are compatible.)
Text itself: Click to view link
Full text: Click to view link
9. "There are no atheists in foxholes" ... a few selections taken from "official doctrine" of LDS scriptures:
a. Isaiah 44-64 (KJV): Click to view link
b. Jeremiah 31 (KJV) Click to view link
c. John 10:16 (KJV) Click to view link
d. 3 Nephi 16 (Book Of Mormon) Click to view link
e. D&C 1 (Doctrine & Covenants) Click to view link
f. Articles of Faith, #10 (Pearl of Great Price): Click to view link
10. (a little light humor!) Ten Things I Learned from Noah's Ark: Click to view link~tom/jokes/Noah_Ark.html
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Posted by Bluebird on 09/23/12 12:56 PM
theodorej: "Romney may not be the perfect candidate, but he will have to do for now... " Not in my book. As far as I am concerned, he can ride out on the same horse he rode in on:big bankers.
Bob Wenzel at EPJ had a chart up that showed who the candidates top contributers were. Romney was funded by GS, Chase, Morgan, etc. Obama: Google, Microsoft and others involved with spying. And Ron Paul: The US military. Without RP on the ballot, I will not be voting. I would vote Tom Woods in 2016 though!
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Posted by theodorej on 09/23/12 08:33 AM
In response to the friend of Mr Galt ... .Ayn Rand was an active socialist and her writings are indicative of that... I agree with you with respect to the iminent financial train wreck that awaites us... If the calamity that is coming emulates a domino effect than the very first casualty will be the welfare system ... .
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Posted by theodorej on 09/23/12 08:02 AM
I must agree with Ron in principle ... Romney may not be the perfect candidate,but he will have to do for now... Let us not lose sight of the fact that,he is going to want eight years not four... With the inception of the tea party and its subsequent evolution we now have a much better informed electorate than we had in 2008 and of course this phenomonon was brought on by the internet and websites such as this one... There is more sunlight on the elites than ever before and the last time I checked they are as carnal as we are... the only difference between then and now is we know who they are. Their plans could very well be interupted or radically revised by the reality of an awakened populus...
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Posted by Col on 09/23/12 03:26 AM
2016?
Keep an eye on Marco Rubio, I'm distrustful of political figures that come to the fore from no-where, Marco Rubio's sudden appearance on the scene mirrors Obama's, I knew back in 2004 Obama would be America's next president for 2008, there was just something totally un-natural in the way the MSM was promoting Obama 4 years previously.
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Posted by Bosco Hurn on 09/23/12 12:15 AM
The Mormon religion is one for either Satanists or fools. Read this article that has plenty of pictures of the Satanic symbolism that is all over Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
Sinister Sites - Temple Square, Utah
Click to view link
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Posted by picomanning on 09/22/12 07:02 PM
The world economic system is collapsing. Europe and America are slopped in sticky debt. Keynesian stimulus was flawed from the beginning. Big nation economies are all hamstrung. The falls can be heard by those with ears to hear. The collapse will evolve into price and political chaos crime and war.
Our Leaders lead without conscience, preferring to focus on their own estates. It's not difficult to store food, fuel, ammo, and a couple of guns.
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Posted by Friend_of_John_Galt on 09/22/12 06:20 PM
It is typical of many religions to have a "savior" (or prophet or whatever) who is supposed to come (or return) to set everything "right." This is such a common religious belief that several indigenous peoples were fooled to accept invaders under the mistaken impression that "the savior" (or prophet or whatever) had "returned."
So I put no weight into a thought that Romney might be the Mormon "white horse."
Sadly, I doubt that enough of my fellow citizens will fully understand the economics going on that we will be able to avoid serious consequences, regardless of who is elected.
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Posted by dimitri on 09/22/12 04:49 PM
DB articles are not usually funny. But I found myself smiling and quietly laughing several times reading about the White Horse Savior. More funny stuff from Ron Holland, please! (Hasn't he evaded the voting question by moving to Canada?)
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Posted by earnst on 09/22/12 04:43 PM
'Almost gives me hope. Thanks, Mr. Holland!
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Posted by Just John on 09/22/12 04:03 PM
Amen.
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Posted by dave jr on 09/22/12 01:15 PM
It is the "system" built on corruption that inevitably will go down. It is a question of how much it can take with it, and that depends on you and me.
Any "white horse" rider, purported to "save" me, is no friend of mine. I have been saved quite enough already, thankyou very much.
Productive people associating freely is the natural condition of humankind and is referred to as the "free market", or "real economy". No matter how bad it gets, it is the free market that will continue to operate; even if amidst a smoldering wreckage.
We are our own "savior", but only if we can believe it.
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Posted by Bluebird on 09/22/12 11:01 AM
Without singling out any specific religion, it is frustrating when you try to get people to take action and they would rather believe a spiritual leader will come to fix it all so they don't need to do anything. While it may or not be true, this is our world and we should try to fix it. Seems the "take care of me" mentality has crossed over into religion. If people had that attitude in times past, we would still be only allowed to hear a spiritual leader read scripture to us. The Revolution would never have happened. True change begins with you...
That being said, it does concern me with various religions that believe man can obtain godhood. We have a tendency to think we are mostly there. We need to get our heads out of the clouds, work together and find solutions.
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Posted by DrFun on 09/22/12 09:47 AM
Joseph Smith was a story teller in hs earlier years and what better story to fabricate than a religious tale.
Joseph Smith translated his stories by looking at an upturned hat and his second interpitation didn't match the first.
Joseph Smith claims to have been told by a salamander where to find golden tablets in upstate New York, a location that has no gold deposits and these alleged tablets have never been seen by any ohter person.
Mitt Romeny's grandfather fled to mexico with his multiple wives after the U.S. banned polaagmy. A fugitive who ran from the law so he could keep his harem.
