When America Legislates Iniquity - Judgment Soon Follows!

In a Landmark Decision The Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex couples have a right to get married anywhere in the United States.  

Ironically Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family,”.  Whether he realizes it or not his words were more profound and condemning than he realizes.  The foundation of God's covenant are love, fidelity, devotion, and sacrifice.  The family is the foundation upon which those eternal principles of covenant are established.

“In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were,” Kennedy wrote. “As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.

In regard to forming a marital union God has stated, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)  To Justice Kennedy, those of the Supreme Court of the United States, and President Barrack Obama I would humbly remind them:

Equal Dignity in the Eyes of the Law (of the United States of America) does not equal Equal Dignity in the Eyes of God!

WHAT HAS BEEN SHALL BE!

This is what the LORD says: “The people of Judah have sinned again and again,and I will not let them go unpunished! They have rejected the instruction of the LORD,refusing to obey his decrees. They have been led astray by the same lies that deceived their ancestors." (Amos 2:4)

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the message of the scripture above. One of the worst mistakes a nation can make is to forget the law of God in its national, political, and social life.  The fullness of iniquity on a national level is reached when that same government that forgets the laws of God then legislates Sin as law among the people.  In effect the Government is legislating Sin as Law. That nation which forgets God, lives as though God laws do not apply to them, and then establishes Sin as Law will eventually learn that whether they have recognized Him or not, YHVH (God) is God. He is their King and Judge and despite their "authority" there is still one greater to whom they will give an account.

The sins of ancient Israel are being repeated in the United States of America. The prophet Amos outlines how one nation after another that shaped their laws and policies (domestic and foreign) as though they could establish sin as law would be judged by God.  And one nation after another is called on the carpet by the voice of the Prophet of God. As a result of their murders, oppression, injustice, dishonesty, sexual immorality, violence, and their various disgraces – i.e. "because they have despised the law of the Lord and have not kept his commandments" – “The LORD’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem! The lush pastures of the shepherds will dry up; the grass on Mount Carmel will wither and die.” (Amos 1:2).  In other words, Judgment is pronounced.  The leaders, the nation, and the people will wither and die.

As another witness, the Book of Mormon also specifically warns the people that occupy the land of the United States of America, "And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity. For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off. (Ether 2: 9-10)

THE UNITED STATES -THE FULLNESS OF INIQUITY

America is a covenant land grant.  As such all who reside on this land must serve God and obey the terms of his covenant. From and Israelite perspective the word iniquity (avon) is equated with sin or lawlessness.  The breaking of God's commandments or disregard for his laws is iniquity. The fullness of iniquity is a state of what is termed high handed or open rebellion against God and his commandments.   When people or even a nation sin ignorantly or openly and repent there is provision made to bring the people back into a proper covenant relationship with God.  When the people or nation sin knowingly and openly and refuse to repent it is called open rebellion.  When open rebellion against God and his laws is legislated as law by the people or the governing institution of the land THE FULLNESS OF INIQUITY HAS BEEN REACHED!

To save those who do not comply with the laws of sin that are established and to free the people from the bondage of secret combinations and corrupt governments God judges the Government and the Land.  For those who embrace iniquity, I would declare the following:

"Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.

They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.

They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too."  (Romans 1:22-29)

A VOICE OF WARNING TO MODERN MORMONS

"And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God—that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done.


Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written." (Ether 2:11-12)

THE LEGALIZING OF SIN OR INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF INIQUITY IS NOT LOVE!

"Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved. And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offense against your God upon those points of doctrine, which ye have hitherto risked to commit sin. Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness." (Alma 41:8-10)

There will be many who will embrace and cheer at the decision rendered by the Highest Court of our Land.  There will be those who believe that such a decision is wonderful because they see it as an expression of "love". There may be those of us us with family members and friends that this decision will directly affect and with whom we have an emotional tie.  The reality is that our definition of love is not God's definition of love and our emotions count for nothing more than another drop in a larger well of national iniquity.  In the end we have a decision to make do we love man and sin or God:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." ( Deuteronomy 6:5-9)

For those who love God, may we heed the call to repent and return!

The Remnant of Jacob or the House of Israel

"And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." (Exodus 19:3-6)

There is a distinction between “the house of Jacob” and “the children of Israel.” The house of Jacob refers to all of the direct descendants of Jacob while the children of Israel refers to all those who were in a covenant relationship with God. Jacob was the name of Israel before he entered into covenant with God while the name Israel was given to Jacob after he entered into covenant with God. Israel represents the people of the covenant.

DNA does not determine your covenant status before God. Covenant relationships with God are a matter of the heart. Our willingness to be obedient to YHVH (God) is the a true sign of the condition of our hearts.  Just as physical circumcision is a sign of the covenant the circumcision of the heart is the requirement to fully enter into covenant with God.

The official decree from Adam to Israel was to keep (heb. shamar: guard and protect) the covenant. To guard and protect God's covenant is to establish his Kingdom by obeying his commandments. It is not some half-assed or half-hearted attempt to keep commandments, but a devotion of loyalty and fidelity like a wife would love her husband or a faithful son to his Father.

The covenant is like a marriage contract between a wife and her husband.  The people are the betrothed wife and God is the husband. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai he brought with him the marriage proposal:

"And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD." (Exodus 19:7-8) --- IN OTHER WORDS, ISRAEL ACCEPTED THE PROPOSAL WITH, "I DO!"

God was extending a covenant marriage relationship to his people-his bride. The Five Books of Moses contain what is called a Ketubah or the Covenant Marriage Contract.  Those who become Israel (Jew, Gentile, Nephites, Lamanites, Mulekites, Ten Tribes, etc) obtain a fulfillment of the marriage covenant God extended to Abraham.  They put off their prior laws, cultures, and identities and become O' HOUSE OF ISRAEL-- A COVENANT NATION OF GOD.

The instructions given by God remain the heart of the Covenant - like a Ketubah or a written marriage contract between a husband and a wife. A Ketubah is simply a marriage contract or document that was very common in middle eastern cultures.  The document lays out the parties in the marriage and the instructions or principles that define the marriage. It also includes the responsibilities of the parties should the contract be breached. The closest thing in American culture that comes closest to a Ketubah would be our modern pre-nuptual agreement.

God was extending and then consummating his marriage covenant with his people.  This included not only the natural descendants of Jacob, but the mixed multitude of people that came with them out of Egypt. Anyone can be numbered among or be one with Israel (God's Covenant People) as long as they agreed to obey and be one with the God of Israel.  Just like anybody could live in the covenant camp of Abraham and enter into covenant as long as they were circumcised and followed the commandments of God.

God's covenant laws and instructions were given to all mankind.  Adam, Enoch, Noah, and Melchizedek were not Hebrew, Israelite, Jews, Mormons, or Christians.  God's laws and instructions came down from the beginning. Before there was a House of Israel there was the House of Elohim and those who were numbered among the House of Elohim had to embrace the rules of God's house.
After the expulsion from the Garden of Eden it was necessary to provide a way to restore mankind back into a relationship with God.  All who desire to be numbered among the people of God must follow HIS ways--not the rules and traditions of an elitist cult, group, church or religion.

When we speak of commandments, laws, and the ways of God it is not another way of saying, "Stop doing bad things! or Don't do bad things!"  It is the honoring and embracing of God as our Covenant Lord, King, Husband, Deliverer, Covering, and Salvation.  It is a marriage of the heart, soul, and might.

God has always been concerned with the individual as well as the nation. He establishes his covenant with individuals and nations not to set them apart into membership into an elite country club, but to reveal himself to the other nations and to bless them. Anyone who wanted to enter into this Covenant relationship with the God could do so on the provision that they embraced and guarded the terms of the Covenant- the marriage contract.

In the end there will be a decision that all of us must make.  Do we remain Gentiles, Mormons, Jews, Christian, Ten Tribes, Nephites, Lamanites, etc?  OR Do we become Israel - God's Covenant People?