Why this blog?? It requires time and effort and provides no monetary compensation. Few people relate to my “Zion” theme – it’s totally foreign to most, even for some Latter-day Saints. Those who know me may think it is a bit odd. After all, who do I think I am to address these topics? I am certainly not a “General Authority” or an official representative of the LDS Church. The men and women who officially represent the Church speak frequently, publish widely read articles, and are more experienced and wiser than I am – at least in general theological and spiritual subjects. My site statistics show an increasing number of hits, visitors, and page views – but I don’t believe the stats really. I do believe more and more robots visit my blog as time goes by because WordPress does a pretty good job of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). I get lot’s of spam and have only received two genuine comments since my first post of April 2009.
Well, that’s the negative perspective. If I really believed in the overall tone the first paragraph, I should quit, and if I were blogging on less important subjects I would.
However, here are my real thoughts:
I really do believe in Jesus Christ and His role as my Savior – that He died for my sins. My faith is in an actual living tangible active Christ, not a dead one from ancient history. I believe that God truly cares TODAY and has provided Jesus as the future of this world. What a marvelous thought! What hope that brings – that the second coming of Jesus and His Zion society is REAL. That he saves us both spiritually and physically and, in the end, provides true justice for all. A thoughtful person, observing the trends, realizes there is no friendly future possible for mankind without a significant upgrade in the attitudes we human have for one another. I don’t believe anything can save this world except the truth and the power and the presence of God.
Getting back to the original point: Why this blog?
- Because that’s all I can do right now to promote the cause of Zion1 and to teach myself what I still need to understand and to keep my eye on the prize. Soon, in a few years, I hope and expect to serve another mission of some kind for the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ – maybe multiple missions.
- The scriptures mandate that each follower of Christ testify of him. Why SHOULD we put our put our light under a basket2? No one is going to kill us like they might have in earlier times.
- The current leaders of the Church, prophets of God, encourage promoting the restored Gospel online3 and in every way possible. Just a few years ago, a Google search on “Latter-day Saint” or “Mormon” would immediately bring up page after page of vile satanic slander and falsehood. Now it’s a much improved situation.
- Finally, I anguish over the poverty and the ignorance I see in the world. As a missionary, I saw plenty of falsehood, foolishness, sin4, and suffering. I rejoice at having a chance to promote the divine means of overcoming it — of bringing joy to those who have never experienced it. I thrill that the tithing of my income (10% of gross) goes to the building up of Zion on the earth – chapels, temples, educational opportunity, health and service projects – and almost all spent outside North America, and 100% of it for practical things that make a real difference, and not just talk and theory.
- Everyone has something unique to offer and in my experience and position I can sometimes offer a new perspective. Few, for example, have studied as much about Babylon6 as I have.
- I like to be on the winning team. I see how the Kingdom of God is winning – slowly at first but growing and growing – like the stone5 cut out of the mountain without hands, until it fills the whole earth. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that? As a small example, the people of Quebec, where I served my mission, had zero stakes of the Church organized when I served, yet they now have not only Stakes of the Church but a Temple of God7 too. The town of Alma where I was the first missionary who taught the first person baptized in Alma8 — now has a strong thriving branch with their own building!9
I love this quote by President Henry B. Eyring in the Feb 2011 Ensign:
Few joys in life are sweeter and longer lasting than knowing that you have helped others take the restored gospel of Jesus Christ into their hearts. Having that joy is the opportunity of every member of the Church. When we were baptized, we made a promise that we would “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death, that [we] may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that [we] may have eternal life” (Mosiah 18:9).
All members accept part of the charge given to the Church to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, wherever and as long as they live. The Lord said it clearly: “Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor” (D&C 88:81). …
The promise the Lord gave to a missionary in 1832 is also the promise He gives to us in our charge to find people ready for teaching by the missionaries: “I will send upon him the Comforter, which shall teach him the truth and the way whither he shall go; and inasmuch as he is faithful, I will crown him again with sheaves” (D&C 79:2–3).
So, thank you President Eyring, there’s my answer!
I invite faithful members of the Church to do the same. I encourage those not yet faithful members to join with us quickly – it’s good for you and it’s good for us. Repent (turn to God) and then take up the sword of truth in the cause the Latter-day Christ and His Zion. Be on the winning team.
3 Behold, the field is white already to harvest; therefore, whoso desireth to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God.
4 Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God.
5 Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you.
6 Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.
13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house;
16 Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
3Elder M. Russell Ballard (Apostle) Dec 2007 
Now, may I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet to share the gospel and to explain in simple and clear terms the message of the Restoration. Most of you already know that if you have access to the Internet you can start a blog in minutes and begin sharing what you know to be true. You can download videos from Church and other appropriate sites, including newsroom.lds.org, and send them to your friends. You can write to media sites on the Internet that report on the Church and voice your views as to the accuracy of the reports. This, of course, requires that you understand the basic principles of the gospel. It is essential that you are able to offer a clear and correct witness of gospel truths. It is also important that you and the people to whom you testify understand that you do not speak for the Church as a whole. You speak as one member — but you testify of the truths you have come to know.
49 And the whole world lieth in sin, and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin.
50 And by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me.
51 For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin.
52 And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me.
44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
… Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
2 The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.
3 Yea, a voice crying—Prepare ye the way of the Lord, prepare ye the supper of the Lamb, make ready for the Bridegroom.
4 Pray unto the Lord, call upon his holy name, make known his wonderful works among the people.
6Babylon6
7Temple of God7
8first person baptized in Alma8
9own building!9