Jesus Christ Was Not A Commie

                    Some people are very confused and think that Jesus Christ advocated for the communist way of life.  President Barack Obama, liberals, progressives, atheists, and other unknowledgeable people have been asserting that the teachings of Jesus Christ are the same as the communist doctrines of Karl Marx.  There is even a new "award-winning" film entitled "Jesus Was A Commie".  Mark Alexander, editor of the Patriot Post, wrote an excellent article about this subject.

In a recent speech, Obama combined two different Biblical teachings in order to justify income redistribution.  He combined the statement of Cain "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9) with the teachings of Jesus Christ about caring for the poor and needy in Matthew 25:40:  "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."  

Obama claims that the socialist idea of "spreading the wealth around" is the same as the teachings of Jesus Christ found in Luke 12:48:  "But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.  For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required:  and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."

There are other statements similar to the one referenced, which indicate that Luke was talking about more than temporal possessions.  The Apostle James wrote:  "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).

There is an even more enlightening statement in Doctrine and Covenants 82:10:  "For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation."

Obama is following the same path as did Franklin D. Roosevelt.  Roosevelt's idea was to tax according to the ability to pay - tax the rich because they have more money - rather than have everyone pay their fair share.  This is how we have arrived at the point that nearly 50 percent of our taxpayers do not actually pay any income tax and even receive money back!  Both Obama and Roosevelt got their ideas from Karl Marx who taught, "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs."

There are some huge differences between the teachings of Karl Marx and the teachings of Jesus Christ or between communism and the law of consecration.  In fact, I am so bold as to state that socialism/communism is Satan's counterfeit for the Lord's law of consecration.  The biggest difference between the Lord's plan and Satan's counterfeit is the element of agency - freedom, independence, liberty, and the opportunity to choose.

1) The Lord acts in love and lets us choose with the end result being that everyone benefits.  "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man.  And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself" (Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 2 Nephi 2:27).

Communists want to force us to do as they think is best for us - no matter what we want.  An excellent example of how socialists/communists work is in the health care reform known as Obamacare.  Every American would be forced to buy health insurance or pay a fine for not doing so - whether we want insurance or not.

2) The Lord wants us to take care of the poor and needy, but He wants us to do it in His way.  His plan allows everyone to choose whether or not to participate.  Under the law of consecration everyone has a choice of whether or not to voluntarily give up whatever extra they have in order to help the poor. 

"And all that believed were together, and had all things common" (Acts 2:44). 

"And they taught, and did minister one to another; and they had all things common among them, every man dealing justly, one with another" (Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 3 Nephi 26:19).

"And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself" (Doctrine and Covenants 105:5).

"And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them" (Pearl of Great Price, Moses 7:18).  Did you notice those last words?  When we do things the Lord's way, there will be "no poor among them".

The socialist/communist way is to take from the rich and give to the poor - take from the makers and give to the takers, take from the 53% that pay federal taxes and give to the 47% that pay no taxes - until no one has any desire to work or anything else to give  - and everyone ends up poor.

3) The Lord wants us to be rich in order that we can build up His kingdom and help those with less. 

"Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.

"But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.

"And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good - to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted" (Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Jacob 2:17-19).

The liberals/progressives in this nation who are guiding us towards social/communism do not believe that people should be rich.  They write regulations that stifle business and try to destroy capitalism and free enterprise.  They are attempting to kill the "golden goose" and still have the eggs!  

The worst thing about this whole situation is that Obama and his minions are attempting to deceive us by equating communism with the law of consecration.  They are attempting to tell us that evil is good and black is white.  Do not let them deceive you!  Do your own homework and discover for yourself that Jesus Christ did not teach the principles known as communism!

                    

Establishing Zion

                    Families grow stronger as we establish Zion in our individual homes.  Our homes can be places where we dwell together in peace and harmony and where our hearts are knit together in joy, love and unity.  

                    President Henry B. Eyring stated, "We see increased conflict between peoples in the world around us.  Those divisions and differences could infect us.  That is why my message of hope today is that a great day of unity is coming.  The Lord Jehovah will return to live with those who have become His people and will find them united, of one heart, unified with Him and with our Heavenly Father.

                    "You have heard that message of unity from me more than once.  I may well speak of it in the future.  I have heard it from every prophet of God in my lifetime…. The Lord's prophets have always called for unity.  The need for that gift to be granted to us and the challenge to maintain it will grow greater in the days ahead, in which we will be prepared as a people for our glorious destiny.

                    "My message is that we are doing better.  Fathers and mothers are pleading for unity in their homes, and those prayers are being answered.  Families are praying together night and morning….

                    "You have seen evidence, as I have, that we are moving toward becoming one.  The miracle of unity is being granted to us as we pray and work for it in the Lord's way.  Our hearts will be knit together in unity.  God has promised that blessing to His faithful Saints whatever their differences in background and whatever conflict rages around them….

                    "The reason that we pray and ask for that blessing is the same reason the Father is granting it.  We know from experience that joy comes when we are blessed with unity.  We yearn, as spirit children of our Heavenly Father, for that joy which we once had with Him in the life before this one.  His desire is to grant us that sacred wish for unity out of His love for us.

                    "He cannot grant it to us as individuals.  The joy of unity He wants so much to give us is not solitary.  We must seek it and qualify for it with others.  It is not surprising then that God urges us to gather so that He can bless us.  He wants us to gather into families…"  (Ensign, Nov. 2008). 

                    Heavenly Father wants us to gather into families and then into classes, branches, wards and stakes in order to learn more about unity.  As we build unity in our individual families and Church families, the unity will overflow into our communities, cities, counties, states, and nations.

                    An ancient American prophet by the name of Alma and his people lived in difficult and dangerous circumstances as they gathered at the Waters of Mormon.  Alma taught the principles and performed the ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ to his followers, and they were unified.  The scriptures say, "And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward.  And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church….

                    "And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.

                    "Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.

                    "And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.

                    "And thus he commanded them to preach.  And thus they became the children of God" (Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Mosiah 18:17, 19-22).

                    We can help unity to grow in our homes by developing faith in Jesus Christ, repenting of our sins, forgiving each other, receiving revelation, being humble (because pride is the enemy to unity), and being peacemakers.  Unity can be established among people who come from vastly different backgrounds because the children of our Heavenly Father have more in common than we have differences. 

      

                      Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, "Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes, and faithfulness of her citizens.  Remember, `the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them" (Moses 7:18).  If we would establish Zion in our homes, branches, wards, and stakes, we must rise to this standard.  It will become necessary (1) to become unified in one heart and one mind; (2) to become, individually and collectively, a holy people; and (3) to care for the poor and needy with such effectiveness that we eliminate poverty among us.  We cannot wait until Zion comes for these things to happen - Zion will come only as they happen.

                    "As we consider the unity required for Zion to flourish, we should ask ourselves if we have overcome jarrings, contentions, envyings, and strifes (see Doctrine and Covenants 101:6).  Are we individually and as a people free from strife and contention and united `according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom"?  (Doctrine and Covenants 105:4).  Forgiveness of one another is essential to this unity.  Jesus said, "I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men" (Doctrine and Covenants 64:10).

                    "We will become of one heart and one mind as we individually place the Savior at the center of our lives and follow those He has commissioned to lead us….

                    "Much of the work to be done in establishing Zion consists in our individual efforts to become `pure in heart' (Doctrine and Covenants 97:21).  `Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom,' said the Lord; `otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself' (Doctrine and Covenants 105:5).  The law of the celestial kingdom is, of course, the gospel law and covenants, which include our constant remembrance of the Savior and our pledge of obedience, sacrifice, consecration, and fidelity….

                    "Throughout history, the Lord has measured societies and individuals by how well they cared for the poor….

                    "In much of the world, we are entering upon unsettled economic times.  Let us look after one another the very best we can" (Ensign, November 2008).  

                    All of our families would be living in conditions closer to Zion if we would follow the counsel given by Elder Neal A. Maxwell:  "Let us once and for all establish our residence in Zion and give up the summer cottage in Babylon" (A Wonderful Flood of Light [1990], 47).  Families who are seeking to establish Zion in their homes are growing stronger as they do so.