6.2.26

Coincidence? I think not--there are no coincidences...

Er, wait--I suppose there might be...

So, when you read Bonds that Make Us Free you will read but may gloss-over the part where C. Terry Warner writes that "self-betrayal" is his way of talking about sin in a way that you, the reader, doesn't get offended or even come to that conclusion (because you're so interested in the stories and worried about comparing yourself to those in the story (laughing at them or laughing with them or feeling sorry for them or feeling compasion for them, etc. etc.) that every single time you are reading about self-betrayal, you are actually reading about different flavors of sin!

Wait... what?

He even tells you and me that he's doing just that! Don't believe me? Just re-read it again with that insight that he's already told you about in your first reading (it's ok if you never finished it the first time through, but you might want to read it again now, right!?!).

My point, though, is that Dr. Warner didn't mind telling you his secret because he assumes that you will finish reading the book and then will keep living your life with the insights you've just read in mind, and will become a better person--you won't betray yourself as you had previously--a sinless person? The reason why he mentions this little gem of information is that he wanted people to have a new vocabulary to be able to use in a non-offensive way--wanted people to be able to talk about situations that they've been in or that others have been in and not have it be about what it actually is...sin!

So, Our Heavenly Father put me in the perfect situation and life where most people, or almost every person that I know, doesn't feel like they need to be offended at me or permanently think that I must be the biggest jerk ever to have lived (did you hear what that guy just said to me?). They can "endure it" beause they've already heard me speak and think they know that they only need to feel sorry for me or can't take it too seriously, after all... he's special... he must have special needs... he must be retarded! there is something wrong with that guy--did you hear him talk? Did you listen to him? Boy, if someone normal had said that, I'd be mad... Goog thing that guy is not normal!

Everything that I say is in a special meta-language and you can think of it as a "self-betrayal"-type language, where you might be calling it a sin, but it's only comind-out as "self-betrayal" or worse yet, you think that it's all just "self-bertral" talk, but it actually is sin!!!

JPS

1.2.26

Evil in nature? Nah…

What is it that can bring a woman to give-up and willingly abandon that which is most sacred to her--her virtue? Power? Greed? No! It is a need of acceptance and desire for love! It is man who so easily and casually can abuse woman without a second thought—or even with the second thought feeling that they must or else they will fall into obscurity—as to what they are doing and what they, themselves, will end-up paying for in the end... So, Nephi isn't saying, "Look, there were women doing bad things, but, look how bad the men are that are using women like gold and silver... like fine-twined-linen! Look how man thinks of women as a commodity or as a "thing" to be traded for and bought and sold! Look how depraved the men are in that abominable church" Are men or even I different from them? How? The virtue and chastity of women are important--maybe the most important of all--but, I think God is using this type of language to say that men need to be protecting women's virtue but saying it in a way that makes men think it must be women's fault (like it's their choice alone that has brought them into prostitution)... He must be terribly disappointed in the choices of some women, but even more so in the men who are charged with their protection and care, right? How are we, the saints of God or membe