Belief, Faith, and Seeing

 ...faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

Ether 12:6

A witness comes after the trial of faith, which witness is not necessary, or not substantial, because the witness doesn’t increase faith. In other words, I don’t get a witness until I don’t need it. Once I have sufficient faith, I will get a witness, but at that point, I wouldn’t need a witness because my faith is sufficient to sustain me. I only get what I don’t need. The witness only adds beauty to the structure of faith, it is the outward appearance of faith. 

Those who have sufficient faith are shown what they already know by faith, and can then say they have seen so that others may have faith in their words and come to see the same things they already know by faith.

But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.

Ether 12:8

Those who believe me when I tell them I have seen, that I have no more faith, but sure knowledge, can then go through the same process of building faith so they can receive a witness. But the witness doesn’t come until after faith.

Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.

Ether 12:9

Faith must exist first, I must know by faith something I haven’t seen, and then the promise of seeing is fulfilled.

...they obtained not the promise until after their faith.

Ether 12:17

People who have faith see what they already know by faith. Moroni explains that many people...

...saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith...

Ether 12:19

They already had seen it “with an eye of faith.” They already knew. There was no surprise, they knew, like the brother of Jared.

...so great was his faith in God, that when God put forth his finger he could not hide it from the sight of the brother of Jared, because of his word which he had spoken unto him, which word he had obtained by faith.

Ether 12:19-20

The brother of Jared was able to see the Lord because, the Lord “could not hide it...” He had such faith that he already knew. Because he knew the Lord, he was able to see Him. The Lord said to him at this point:

Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.

Ether 3:13

The manifestation of something is by faith to those who already know by faith. Seeing angels and spiritual things without faith is useless, it doesn’t create faith, and can be lost. Seeing something from outside my beliefs is not evidence, so it doesn’t mean anything to me. Only when I already know by faith is the manifestation beneficial. Nephi was exasperated by his brothers who didn’t have faith. They saw angels and heard the voice of God. They were shocked into submission, they did the impossible in building a ship, but because there was no faith, it didn’t mean anything. There was nothing to hang it on, no faith on which to base the experience, so they lost it. The manifestation, or seeing, is not evidence.

...faith is... the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

A single experience without faith is nothing. If I just see someone, I know what they look like, but I have no basis for a relationship. However, when I have known someone for many years, and have had many experiences with that person, I have evidence of who they are, their character and attributes. My years of experience build faith, while the manifestation or appearance, their dress and words, give me no understanding of their nature and disposition. The brother of Jared knew the character of God:

Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.

Ether 3:12

It was after this that he was able to see the Lord.

...never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. 

Ether 3:15

Belief is often used as a synonym for faith because faith is the evidence of belief. Evidence is built over time. Beliefs change according to the evidence, but manifestations, miracles, or seeing does not increase evidence; it comes through long-term experience, and is built gradually. Evidence is faith, the witness is the confirmation of faith. For the brother of Jared faith was there. He had built a great deal of evidence, and because he knew the character of God, he was able to be in His presence. The witness must come after the faith sufficient to support it. Faith must precede the miracle, or there is no miracle. A miracle is a manifestation of the power of God. God can to nothing without faith first. God can show me only what I already know by faith.

For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; 

Ether 12:12

God can do only what is already done by faith. God does the miracle, people see the manifestation of His hand, but that vision only comes by faith. 

For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith.

2 Nephi 27:23

On the other hand, God does NOT do anything unless people have faith. So, without faith, nothing will happen. There will be no manifestations, no visions, no healing, no miracles. There must be faith for anything to happen from God.

The Foundation of Faith

The other aspect of faith is that it must be true. If I have a belief that is not true, and I find plenty of “substance” and “evidence” it still is not faith. The issue is that I am not looking simply for confirmation of my beliefs, but rather for the truth. Thus a dedication to truth is essential for building faith.

...if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

Alma 32:21

Faith rests on truth. There must be truth as a foundation to sustain all things. A building of “substance” and “evidence” that is not true will crumble, it is a virtual building and cannot hold any true experience. I will not receive a manifestation of God, or any miracle, if my faith is vain, such as a belief in something that isn’t true. Belief without truth is like a building without a foundation, as Lehi, in his dream, saw,

a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air,

1 Nephi 8:26

Nephi was told what the building represented.

And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men.

1 Nephi 12:18

“Imaginations” are fantasies. So many people in the world are trying to live a fantasy. They truly believe that they can be saved by money. They truly believe that more food will fill their emptiness. They truly believe that other people could make them happy. It’s all fantasies, vain imaginations, and pride. Nephi was also shown what happens to such structures.

...it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great.

1 Nephi 11:36

Faith must be built on a foundation of truth. The type of person who seeks only to confirm their wrong beliefs, and gratify their pride has no foundation in truth. Only those who are willing to be humble and give up all their own beliefs and desires, who seek only truth, will be able to build faith. My primary objective is to know truth at all costs. Then, I gradually build faith as I receive truth little-by-little. And last, I wait upon the Lord to provide the witness, or the confirmation of my faith. I will see. I will see His hand. I will see miracles.

Witness is mind, Faith is heart

Faith is the first principle of the gospel; it comes from hearing the word of God.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17

When people listen to the word of God, the Spirit bears witness of it, and it increases their faith in Him. It is the Spirit of God that gives faith, not our own experiences. The witness of the Spirit has more power than all the things we feel, see, and hear. 

when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.

2 Nephi 33:1

Note that the Holy Ghost carries the words “unto the hearts” but not in the hearts. It can be there, but if the heart is hard, it will not penetrate. If a heart is hard, and is not able to feel the Spirit of God, then there is no evidence, and thus no faith. Hard hearts, and blind minds prevent people from developing faith. Also, those who are unable to feel His words cannot develop faith. Nephi explains this to his brothers, who never did develop any faith, in spite of a lot of witnesses.

Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder. And ye also know that by the power of his almighty word he can cause the earth that it shall pass away; yea, and ye know that by his word he can cause the rough places to be made smooth, and smooth places shall be broken up. O, then, why is it, that ye can be so hard in your hearts?

1 Nephi 17:45-46

They had enough experience with God to know that He had power over all the earth, but they were hard in their hearts, or “past feeling,” so the Holy Ghost could not give them faith. Faith must come to the heart by the Holy Ghost, and I must allow it in. Agency is control over my heart, and what I will allow to enter my heart.

Those who have soft hearts, who are seeking truth, who put their own selves, their ideas and desires, below the truth have the quality of humility. Those who are humble put truth first, and since Christ is truth, they put Him first. Submission to the will of God is submission to truth. Humility must come first, or there will be no faith. I can find no evidence for truth unless I have humility. When I am sufficiently humble I can start building faith as the Holy Ghost brings the words of truth to my heart, and I let it in.

Building Faith

...faith is the substance of things...

Hebrews 11:1

Faith is the substance. It is the structure of life. It is the place upon which my visual experience can hang. Seeing is not enough. Sight is temporary. Vision is limited. Seeing something cannot give surety. Past experience doesn't predict the future. Faith predicts the future. By faith comes the production of all things. I can know by faith. I look forward with an eye of faith. The visual experience is only the capstone of faith, it finishes the faith, but the structure is faith. Faith is the bones, and walls; a witness, or seeing, is the stucco, the paint, the color, the outside, the manifestation, the siding, the image. Faith is the structure, seeing is the appearance. Seeing something is the witness of faith. A witness is just the outside, not the frame. Thus, those who have some structure can be given more because they have a place to put the experience, while those who have no walls cannot receive anything from God, and will lose what they have. Jesus drives this concept home with the “parable of the talents.”

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

Matthew 25:29

“Them that has, gets,” because they have a place on which to put the experience. There must be some kind of structure on which to hang a façade, you can’t just have stucco and paint, there must be some studs and a foundation. Without the foundation and the structure of the building the outside is worthless. Thus,

Those who need the most, get the least.

Those who need the least, get the most.

Nephi explains one reason why this happens:

Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough! For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

2 Nephi 28:29-30

So, to have more manifestations, visions, and miracles it is necessary to have more faith. Those who build a larger structure of faith with a firm foundation and strong walls will have many more things to hang on the outside. Others may look at your lovely façade, but not know that it is all hanging on faith. Thus it seems that those who have shall be given more, and those who have not shall be taken away what they have. The last group has no structure, no place to hang their stuff. Most of the time they will not get stuff, but if they have stuff and have no place to put it, then it will be taken away because it can’t exist on nothing. Faith doesn’t come from seeing, rather it comes from a different kind of experience. 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

Substance and evidence are the hallmarks of faith. They are things I hope for, but are not seen. What I see doesn’t cause belief, it’s the other way around. I need to seek to understand things that I don’t see. If I see, I can mistake this for knowing. Knowing is in the heart, and comes by the Holy Ghost. Seeing brings no knowledge. I can know things I cannot see, better than I could know things I do see. Seeing is a deception, a fraud, it isn’t real. Thus, I need a different way to know.

Truth is the foundation. 

Faith is the structure. 

Miracles are the façade. 

These must come in that order. I cannot build walls without a foundation. Nor can I put on the siding without the walls. Each comes in its order, and in its time. 

Signs, Miracles, and Witness -- the Façade

The last part of the building is the adornment, which is actually seeing what I already know. The miracles are always manifest in those who build a building of faith.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Mark 16:17-18

The signs shall follow those who have faith. It will happen. It is not a question, it is a sure thing. If there is faith, there will be miracles. God is a God of miracles. He wants to show His children His love. He desires to manifest His hand to help them learn and grow. 

Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after... And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.

Ether 12:16,18

On the other hand, if I am not seeing miracles, if I don’t have manifestations of the power of God, then I have not built sufficient faith. I don’t believe, I don’t trust.

And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust.

Mormon 9:20

All who have faith, who do the works of righteousness must have miracles, they must be seeing the hand of God in their lives, or else they don’t believe, and cannot do good.

And wo be unto the children of men if this be the case; for there shall be none that doeth good among you, no not one. For if there be one among you that doeth good, he shall work by the power and gifts of God.

Moroni 10:25

Those who believe in Him, and build their faith on Him, on a foundation of truth, will always have manifestations of their faith. The Lord puts on the outside of our mansion by miracles. If I believe, He will confirm His words by showing His hand in my life. The confirmation of my faith is miracles, specifically those specified as the signs: 

And these signs shall follow them that believe—in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover; And whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing, unto him will I confirm all my words, even unto the ends of the earth.

Mormon 9:24-25

These signs are very specific, and were given to both the disciples in Israel, as well as those in the Americas. These are the ones to look for, these are the confirmation of faith:

1. Cast out devils

2. Speak in tongues

3. Cannot be poisoned

4. Heal the sick

If I don’t see these signs, then I know these are people who don’t believe. Belief brings faith. Faith must precede the miracle. 

People get it backwards. They think if they saw miracles they would believe. They think that faith comes from seeing. That’s all in reverse. I cannot put on the paint until I have some siding. I cannot put up siding until I have walls, I cannot put up walls until I have a foundation. The foundation of dedication to truth is first, then I can put on the walls of faith, and then I can adorn it with the miracles of God. This is why I cannot receive a witness until after I have faith.

The Heart of a Woman

• Women are the heart of society.
• It is essential that society has a heart.
• Men need a heart.
• Unity of man and woman requires a head and a heart.
• Man is the head.
• Woman is the heart.
• A heart is tender.
• We must protect the hearts of women.
  
  
• A woman without a heart is just a head.
• Without a real woman, there is no heart.
• A couple with two heads is just two heads, and no heart.
• If there is no heart, gender becomes irrelevant.
• Two men can be partners with two heads.
• Two women can be partners with two heads.
• Or, a man and a woman can be partners with two heads.
• It’s all the same when there is no heart.
  
  
• Why would a woman have no heart?
• Abuse creates a heart wall that nothing can penetrate.
• Society values their body instead of their heart.
• If women are emotionally damaged, they cannot give their heart.
• If they are exposed to evil they protect their hearts.
• A woman cannot give a broken heart.
  
  

We’re told that women are just like men, that they have all the same wants, needs, desires, and that we should treat them the same. A woman should work the same, and get paid the same, as a man.  A woman can do or be anything she wants. She could be “Rosie the riveter” or run big companies, or leader of the world. A woman should be just like a man... and a man should be just like a woman. This is an earthly concept -- of the world, temporal, temporary. In the world, money is the source of life, and is the measure of success so equality of men and women is found in seeking for power and glory in earning potential, houses, lands, clothing, toys, and all the things of the world that make life good. Why not put a woman in the White House? Women should be ordained to the priesthood. Women should have all the political and economic power in the world that a man may have.

The Big Picture

In the eternities, perhaps there is no difference between a man and a woman in the lower kingdoms of heaven. A man angel is the same as a woman angel. A woman can serve God in all the ways a man can serve God. There is no reproduction so there is no need for a body that can reproduce. There is also no difference in other functions, all are the same there. It doesn’t matter. So, perhaps when one is resurrected into a body that is terrestrial or telestial they are not as man and woman, but gender-neutral. Perhaps even in the celestial glory, the kingdom of the Father, two-thirds are gender-neutral. Thus, since they are not bound together in marriage, and there is no reproduction, gender is irrelevant, so everyone is the same. They become separate, single, androgynous beings. Their unity is sameness. They can be friends, but not sealed. Since they do not increase, gender-neutral is death. This is exactly what people of the world are fighting for. 

However, there is one place in the eternities where the distinction between man and woman makes a difference. The highest degree of the celestial glory means men and women are different, and, as the French say, “Vive le difference!” It is the only place where gender is meaningful. It is where a man and a woman are together for eternity, being a complete human being. It is the highest level of existence, eternal life. Exaltation is the pinnacle of human existence, where a man and woman are as different as can be, but become one. This unity is not sameness, but togetherness in their difference. A man is fully a man, and a woman is completely feminine, and they come together as one to become complete, whole, or perfect -- like God. God is a man -- Man of Holiness is His name. He has a wife. He protects her from the evils of the world, and provides for her. They are one. The difference between men and women is life.

The fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ is being restored to the earth. While all who have read the Bible since the death of the Apostles could understand heaven and hell -- if you’re good you go to heaven, and if you’re bad you go to hell -- they were missing the fullness, the ultimate glory, the pinnacle of success, our full purpose for existence: exaltation and eternal life. This concept was lost when the Apostles died. There was nobody left to teach it. It is that, as children of God, man can become as He is. The essential ingredient is that nobody is whole and complete as an individual, but together, a man and a woman form a complete human being -- a god. Jesus said: “Be ye therefore perfect” (Matthew 5:48) which means complete, or whole. This requires a man and a woman, together. What the prophet Joseph Smith restored is the ability to become one, the sealing power, the possibility of eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God. The purpose of the church is not to teach people how to become androgynous angels, servants to the gods, but rather how to become gods. Therefore, the Church of Jesus Christ will not make women and men the same. Instead, it will teach men how to be men, and women how to be women, and bring them together in unity and love, for when a woman is the heart, and the man is the head, and they are one, they are gods. 

Protect and Provide

Women are special. They have an other-world dimension of charity. They have the ability to make mankind whole. They have a heart filled with love. They are not just like men. Women are not men. Women should not be going to war. Women should not be slaying dragons. Women should not be doing all the worldly things to seek fame and fortune. These are fleeting; they whither, rot, and decay due to entropy with a final end in nothing. All that is bought with money is useless. Only love endures, and without real women there is no love. Children are only taught to make money, to be servants, to be workers in society. They don’t learn love, and don’t have hearts. Without a heart, a woman is just like a man, subject to all the evils of the world, seeking money and power. To maintain love, women should be out of the world, and completely immersed in eternity. Women need to be protected from the evils of the world so they can have a heart, so they can love and build trust, so they can put all their efforts into connecting couples, family, and society together. The glue that holds us together is love. 

The Lord explains that the heart of a woman is tender, and must be protected. The prophet Jacob clearly told the Nephite men that their lasciviousness caused broken hearts of their wives and lost confidence of their children, which brings condemnation on the whole society.

For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands. And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts. For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto destruction; for they shall not commit whoredoms, like unto them of old, saith the Lord of Hosts. And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these commandments were given to our father, Lehi; wherefore, ye have known them before; and ye have come unto great condemnation; for ye have done these things which ye ought not to have done. Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds.

Jacob 2:31-35

Men break the hearts of their wives and lose the confidence of their children by seeking gratification. It is lasciviousness that ruins the world, breaks down families, and brings destruction on society. Hearts are broken, the glue of love is lost, and there is nothing but heads. Men look at women to lust after them, breaking their covenant to be true to their wives. Their children have no confidence. Their daughters don’t believe that a man will protect her so she protects herself. She builds a wall. Without a heart, she then becomes a head, she learns to get along in the world, seeking power, glory, honor, money, lands, houses, toys, and temporal things. She often becomes bitter and angry over the broken heart. She cannot love. She has nothing to give. She cannot fulfill her destiny. She feels empty with all her stuff, it doesn’t fill her true needs or help her fulfill her destiny. 

In that case, a man has the same issue, finding gratification of desires unfulfilling, and having no heart, he can become bitter and angry. What he really needs for fulfillment is the heart of a woman, but his desires have broken her heart and she cannot give it. They cannot become one. They cannot achieve their ultimate purpose. They are not complete nor whole, and cannot be perfect. That which they seek is lost, making them “ripe for destruction.”

The Lord commanded men to “take up their cross” and sacrifice their desires (3 Nephi 12:28-30). By making the sacrifice to not even allow the thought of adultery, men can receive so much more. What he really wants is her heart. The flesh is just a token of the heart, so it is deceptive. It feels like she gives her heart, briefly, but then reality comes and he knows she is not his, they are not really one. Sex is an impostor; there is no fulfillment. However, in making the sacrifice, he can allow his wife to feel safe and she will be able to give the real thing, and they can become one. By giving up the desire for her body he can have her heart. This is real. It fills the need. It brings fulfillment, love, and happiness.

Rather than force them into the world, men need to protect their women, wives and daughters, from wickedness and debauchery. They need to teach them faith, hope, and charity -- to trust in God -- so they don’t build a wall around their hearts. If men take responsibility to protect and provide, then women will be able to love because they won’t need a wall to protect themselves from evil, or provide for themselves -- they can transcend the world and give love. A man must protect all women from the evils of the world; the heart of a woman must be sacred. She must feel safe. She must be innocent. She is love, the glue that holds everyone together. In the world women need real men who are willing to slay the dragon, and fight evil for them so they can be open, loving, free, and able to give their hearts. They will give their hearts to their husbands, making the world a more loving place. Anger and bitterness will be replaced by love. Parents will love their children, and children who grow up with love will be able to love. There will be no misery, for all will be loved; peace will reign. 

If there is going to be unity, we must have women with pure hearts, unadulterated by the things of the world, not caring for money or power on earth, but for love, charity, and the power of God. Joseph Smith told the Women's Relief Society of Nauvoo that they “should be a select Society separate from all the evils of the world, choice, virtuous and holy.” Joseph Smith further taught women, "All must act in concert or nothing can be done." And "by union of feeling we obtain power with God.” The pure heart of a woman has the potential to bring unity - and the power of God - to the world. There is no way to place a monetary value on a woman who loves with an open heart, “for her price is far above rubies!” (Proverbs 31:10)

Creating World Peace

I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

Alma 34:33-35

Conflict

The soul is body and spirit.

There is a battle between the flesh and the spirit.

The body needs to live, and feel good.

The spirit needs to feel right and just.

If the body does all it wants, the spirit will not feel right.

If the spirit dominates, the body will never feel good. 

The battle is over filling the emptiness.

The body wants to fill it with things of the world.

The spirit wants to fill it with God.

The body would use chemicals, sex, food, and other worldly things.

The spirit wants to connect back to God through the Holy Ghost.

The things of the body suppress the things of the spirit.

Separation of the body and spirit is death.

They must go together.

One must win, and bring the other along.

Both cannot have what they want and remain together.

There is a constant battle.

Truce

The default is not peace, but truce.

Truce is when the body and spirit are still enemies, but there are no battles.

Truce is suppression of either the spirit or the body.

Denial of the battle causes domination of the body over the spirit.

The flesh dominates by default because of immediate needs.

Domination by the body is truce because the spirit will always be empty.

Suppression of the spirit brings guilt and shame.

Spiritualists put the needs of the spirit over the body.

The spirit dominates by suppression of the needs of the flesh.

When the spirit dominates, the body rebels, causing addictions, pain, and fatigue.

Truce isn’t peace because the body and spirit are still at odds.

Truce is false integration by domination.

Truce  is temporary.

Truce eventually ends in war because enmity still reigns.

Truce, whether dominated by the body or the spirit, maintains division.

The Spirit of God cannot dwell in unholy temples.

If we aren’t integrated there is no peace.

Integrity comes from unity.

Unity only exists in the absence of domination.

True integrity of soul is peace.

Peace

Unity comes from repentance.

Repentance is submission of my whole soul to God.

The body obeys Christ.

The spirit obeys the Holy Ghost.

The flesh and the spirit are one.

They are integrated when both are subject to God.

Neither the body nor the spirit wins the war.

Peace is to have both the body and spirit subject to God.

Peace is integration of body and spirit.

Integration is being one.

Integrity is unity.

Unity is found in Christ.

Christ can bring a remission of sins, removing guilt and shame.

Only Jesus Christ can bring peace because of forgiveness.

Forgiveness allows the Holy Ghost to be with me.

The Holy Ghost cannot dwell in unholy temples.

I can receive the Holy Ghost if I repent and am forgiven.

The Holy Ghost fills the void.

The Holy Ghost becomes the guide for my soul.

Peace comes when the Holy Spirit is inside me.

Nothing outside of me can disturb my peace.

Peace is internal.

Peace is forever.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

John 14:27

The peace of the world is, like everything else of the world, only temporary. Lack of conflict by suppression of one side of warring parties is a truce. They are still at odds. Either way it is truce -- being spiritual, religious, pious, faithful, believing, or otherwise devoted to the spirit can bring a truce by suppressing the body, like a Stoic. However, in a way, it is no different than being Epicurean, hedonist, indulgent, licentious, or incontinent. One favors the flesh, the other favors the body. There is still incongruity inside. Having a truce may seem like peace, but the enmity still exists.

Those who are self-indulgent suppress their spirit, bringing remorse, guilt, and shame. They fight against the shame. They blame others for shaming them. They blame their parents for raising them with shame. It feels like they can suppress their shame by giving it to someone else. They are constantly running away from themselves, and how they feel about themselves. They compare themselves to others, trying to look good on the outside. Guilt is hidden by creating battles. The guilty take up causes and otherwise fight against what they see as evil. They belong to the “right” political party, religion, or other organization. They raise funds for the downtrodden and oppressed. They prove they have no reason to feel guilty by doing things they think are good. They recruit others to their cause so they can have “a cloud of witnesses” that they are basically good, right, true, and that they have integrity. They may appear to have integrity because they have a truce, but there is no peace in an hedonist truce. 

The other truce is just as tenuous. When the spirit takes over and suppresses the appetites of the body, the body rebels and causes pain, addictions, chronic fatigue, and all sorts of illness. People try to assuage their guilt and shame by suppressing their appetites, and simply become suppressed addicts. In 12-Step programs I am told that I am an addict, and I will always be an addict. The best I can ever be is a controlled addict. Thus, I must go to meetings incessantly, and suffer other addictions that come from trying to control one. If I’m “clean and sober” from drugs, I might be smoking, drinking alcohol, or using large amounts of caffeine. I still have a chemical problem, I just trade around which one I’m using. Often, giving up chemical addictions brings on food addictions. Obesity is rampant, especially in those who are religious, and exceptionally pious about avoiding sinful chemicals. Meditation, yoga, iron man races, fasting, extreme dieting, or other ways of suppressing the appetites and needs of the body may also produce rebellion. Life is pain. In a truce, the war just goes on, underground. There is no peace in a stoic truce.

My internal war rages on like war in the Middle-East. There are times of truce only because one population is suppressed. Israel represents the spirit, and the Palestinians represent the body. When it was Palestinian territory, there were no borders, the people were nomadic, going around in tents, living wherever they desired. Israel came in and made lines, borders, ownership, infrastructure. They suppress the Palestinians. There is truce, but it is tenuous at all times. Palestinians are so suppressed, they feel the only way out is to strap a bomb to themselves and take a few Israelis with them. Israel must be constantly vigilant with a big army, including every young man and woman. It is costly to maintain a truce.

All the answers given of the world bring truce, not peace. Counselors, life coaches, therapists, psychologists and the like have an agenda to allow either the spirit or the body take control of the soul. But, having one side suppress the other is not unity, it is a truce. People may say they are being true to themselves by choosing one or the other, but it is not true integrity. It’s false, because one whole part is missing. Both are important. Both are necessary for me to become whole. I need both to become perfect. 

Be ye therefore perfect

    Matthew 5:48

How do I become integrated without suppressing either my body or my spirit? The answer, like most answers in the world, that both are wrong. Neither one is the right way. Neither the body nor the spirit dominates. The right way is repentance and faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. The body and spirit both submit to Christ and they become one. There is true unity. There is no war. It’s not a truce because they are not enemies. They do not fight, nor rebel, because there is nothing to fight against. Neither are trying to dominate the other. Each is committed to the Lord. The Lord becomes the lord of my soul -- body and spirit. He is the Lord of my body. He is the Lord of my spirit. Where there was conflict, now there is none because both have one lord, the Lord of lords.

...the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

2 Nephi 32:3

The Lord of my body trains me to care for the body. I get enough, but not too much. I train carefully. I use contrast in all things: feast and fast, exercise and rest, wake and sleep. I keep a good circadian rhythm. All appetites, passions, and desires are kept within the bounds the Lord sets for them. Sex, food, drugs, exercise, and all things of the body are regulated, not suppressed. Each need is filled, and feeling is expressed, in the proper time, place, and way. The regulation of the body is done using guidelines without hard-and-fast rules. The guidelines keep things in their proper place, but allow for changes at any time.

...the Holy Ghost... will show unto you all things what ye should do.

2 Nephi 32:5

The Lord is lord of my spirit, giving connection with God, comfort, forgiveness. I have no guilt or shame. The spirit can rest. There is hope. There is love. There is peace. The spirit is happy. I can have the Holy Ghost with me to guide me and to comfort me. When the war is past, my spirit can learn about the body, the power of feelings, and physical strength. I can become one with my body. There is no more war, no more truce, no more rebellion. I have integrity through true integration in Christ. I am one. There is one “I” not two. One.

I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.

Doctrine and Covenants 38:27

Repentance brings peace in all things. If both the Israelis and the Palestinians turn to the Lord, there would be peace in Israel. They would become one people, as it was described in the Book of Mormon. The Nephites and Lamanites had been mortal enemies for hundreds of years, with multiple times of war and truce, but the Lord changed that. When He came to visit the people, they all turned to Him. Neither side won the war, it was God that brought peace.

...the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another. And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift.

4 Nephi 1:2-3

This sounds ideal! This is what everyone wants! This is the society everyone is trying to create, in their own way. Some are fighting against poverty, others are fighting against corruption, but all this fighting is just hacking away at the leaves of evil. The roots are inside each person. When the people have internal peace, when they are all converted to the Lord, Jesus Christ, then we can truly have peace because all will have inner peace. Nobody will need justification. Nobody will be hedonist or stoic. All will be Christian. Love will abound.

 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.

4 Nephi 1:15-16

When all have integrity, and peace, there is no more reason to fight, there is nothing to fight against. When there are no internal wars, then there will be no external wars. 

The answer is repentance. Don’t obey your body. Don’t listen to the “wisdom” of your body. Your body is not omniscient, it only knows what it wants and needs right now. On the other hand, don’t suppress the body with your spirit. Rather submit your whole soul to God, being obedient only to Him. If we all turn to the Lord, we will have inner peace, not just a truce. It will not be suppression, but true peace. The Lord will fill the inner needs. The Lord will comfort every sorrow and dry every tear. Conversion to the Lord, Jesus Christ, will bring the peace everyone craves. There is no other way. Everything else is just a truce. Only Christ brings peace.

No Christ, no peace.
Know Christ, know peace.

Now is the time to repent. Now. Don't wait. Repentance is not an event, it's a lifetime process. Start now.

An Easy Life

Life is easy. 

Everything is easy. 

Life is as easy as pie. 

There is nothing hard about life. 

There is nothing hard about anything in life. 

Simple. Pure. Real. Easy. 

Difficulty

Wrong is hard

Fake is hard.

Fantasy is hard.

False is hard.

Untruth is complex.

There are infinite falsehoods for every truth.

Believing in something that isn’t true makes life hard.

Fiction causes difficulty.

Lies make it hard.

Trying to live a fairy tale makes life hard.

Things are hard when I make mistakes.

Ignorance always makes life hard.

Everyone has an opinion.

Lies are hard because they don’t work. 

All that is hard about life is ignorance.

Everything that makes life hard is not true.

Anything is hard when I don’t know how.

Life is hard if I don’t know truth.

It’s hard not to know.

Life is not supposed to be hard.

Easy

Truth is simple.

Truth is real.

Truth is easy.

Truth is always easy.

Truth is happy.

Truth is healthy.

Truth is fulfilling.

There is only one truth.

Reality is truth.

Everyone has the same truth.

Truth always works.

One truth obliterates millions of lies.

When we know truth, everything becomes easy.

Once I know how to do something, it’s easy.

Once I know the truth about something, it’s easy.

All I need to know is truth, and life becomes easy.

There is only one thing to learn - Truth! Simple. Easy.

Life is supposed to be easy.

Knowledge

There are an infinite number of lies for every truth. Lies make life hard. Truth makes it easy.

There are an infinite wrong ways for every right way.

There are infinite wrong answers -- and none of them help.

Wading through all the opinions and theories about a subject is hard. Learning the truth about it is easy.

If I can't explain it to a child, then I don't know the truth about something.

Not knowing what causes scurvy makes it a hard illness to treat. Vitamin C gives a 100% cure rate in one day without any pain. Easy!

Being ignorant of the cause of illness makes it hard to treat, knowing the truth will cure any illness.

Thomas Edison found out that there were a thousand wrong ways to produce electric light. Knowing  the principles of electricity and light makes it easy.

Not knowing why people act the way we do makes it hard. Knowing the truth about people makes relationships easy.

It’s hard to fix a car with the wrong tools. Having the right tools makes the work easy.

Being ignorant of the principles of construction makes building my house hard. If I know the truth about carpentry It’s easy to build a strong house. 

Addictions are hard because they are the wrong way to deal with problems. Knowing the right way makes it easy.

Diets are hard because they are a fantasy. There is a single, simple truth that makes health easy.

Reading an unknown language is hard. Knowing how to read makes it easy.

Living with death and disease is hard, but knowing the truth about life, and the “big picture” of our existence, makes it easy.

I’m not going to do well on a test if I don’t know the subject, but the test is easy when I have all the right answers.

There is only one thing needed when life gets hard -- truth. 

Once I know truth everything becomes easy.

Knowledge makes life easy.

God

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

God knows everything.

The source all truth is God.

God’s way is easy because He knows all truth.

Knowing God gives me access to truth.

I don’t have to guess among millions of wrong things if I can ask God.

The gift of the Holy Ghost is my access to truth.

The Holy Ghost is the Comforter, giving the truth to comfort me, making life comfortable. 

My soul can rest when I know truth.

My burdens are all lightened by truth.

Knowing truth makes life easy.

Knowing God makes life easy.

I know God. 

Life is easy.

Let’s Make A Deal!

Everything is out there. Every philosophy, every desire, and every need. Every dream I have ever had can be fulfilled. I can be, or do, or have anything I want. There are no limits. I am not bound by anything. There are no rules. I can go anywhere. 

I have been reading a book by a woman who divorced her husband to marry another woman, who says she feels right for the first time; she has obeyed her inner voice and is now fulfilling her destiny. She has everything she wants, now. She is “Untamed” and has become who she really is inside. She is wild, letting her natural woman be her guide. She likens it to a cheetah in the zoo who needs to be out in the wild and “be a cheetah,” instead of being caged and following a dog, running behind a jeep after a stuffed rabbit. Find out who you are, and become that, not what others say you should be. She feels perfect just the way she is, and has quit trying to fit into a world of “shoulds” laid down by a patriarchal society. The book is great in so many ways, but I feel few will recognize that she gave up the future for the present. 

Life is like a game show. Monty Hall goes to a member of the audience and says, “Let’s Make a Deal!” “I will give you this brand new washer and dryer set, or, you can trade it in for what’s behind the curtain. There is a decision to be made. I don't know what’s behind the curtain. It could be a new car, or a goat. Tough decision. Do I keep what I have, or do I give it up for the possibility of something better?

In my life, I am constantly in this dilemma. If I make a sacrifice, I never know what I’m getting! I go to college, but don’t know if I will get the job I want. When I married, I didn’t know what my spouse would decide to do. When we decided to have children, we didn’t know what our children would be like. I just never know at the outset, the end result of my commitment. That’s the deal -- I give up something I have, that I like, for something that I can’t see or know, but I’m told it’s better than what I have.

Either way, it’s a sacrifice. I can sacrifice my future for my present, or vice-versa. When I make a choice to do something, I automatically choose not to do anything else. When I make a sacrifice, it’s gone forever. I can only move forward with what I have. There are only three choices I have with any deal I make: I can keep it and hate it (I didn’t sign up for this!), I can keep it and love it, or I can give it up for another unknown. The deals never end -- until the end.

While I love the concept in the book of being myself instead of what my parents, society, church, or other people think I “should” be, I think it’s short-sighted to only become what I want, not knowing the possibilities. Being “true to myself” seems like giving in to the desires of the flesh, and ignoring the eternal possibilities. There are two parts of me, the natural man of flesh, and the spiritual, or eternal, being. The book is about becoming the “natural man.”

For the natural man is an enemy to God... (Mosiah 3:19)

There is a war going on inside of me between that which is spiritual, and that which is temporal. The temporal is represented by the body and my immediate needs, wants, and desires of the flesh. The spiritual is represented by the spirit and it’s eternal needs. My spirit needs to connect with God, and all that is eternal. I need a soul, a complete body and spirit together, unified, one. However, they are at odds. If I choose one, I must give up the other. I cannot have both. The only real decision I make in life is how I’m going to integrate. I need integrity, which brings peace. 

No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. (3 Nephi 13:24)

In being my natural self, I connect with my body on its terms. I obey my natural instincts and become wild and untamed. I have to give up the spiritual to take on the desires of the flesh as a way of integration, the spirit becoming subject to the body. I have a soul -- the body and spirit are one. It feels so good to be integrated. It feels so right. It feels like I have integrity for the first time. I’m no longer divided inside myself. I have peace. I have integrity. The war is over. I have a real connection inside, and I don’t need an outside connection. It’s all about me. I’m whole. My flesh has won the war, and, don’t you know? The good guys always win! Always. Yes, it’s real, but it’s temporary. The flesh will not go with me. Everything in the world will go away -- it all ends, sooner or later.

So, in “being myself” I lose what I could have had because I never find out that there is so much more -- SO MUCH MORE! By choosing the flesh I give up eternity. It’s like deciding to remain a caterpillar and not making a cocoon to become a butterfly. I feel like the book is saying, “Be the caterpillar you are! Don’t sacrifice your life in a cocoon!” The caterpillar is real, but if it doesn’t make the sacrifice of itself, it will never know what it’s like to fly. That’s the deal: You can keep what you have, or you can give it up for something better that you can’t know until you decide.

Faith is the basis of all eternal decisions.

Life on the ground can seem good as long as I’m getting what I want, but then I don’t learn. I don’t become more than I am. I don’t need faith to remain a caterpillar -- I already experience that. Faith is giving up what I know for a promise of something better.

And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better. (Doctrine and Covenants 25:10)

I don’t even know what “a better” world looks like.  I don’t even know what my potential is. I can’t even fathom what I could become. I can’t have goals because I don’t know the possibilities. 

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

The sacrifice is faith -- faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, trust in God, patience in suffering, and hope for a better world. He is the only hope of integration of the soul by the spirit. Through Him my spirit is in charge. It’s the opposite of being wild and untamed, the body becomes subject to the spirit.

And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to the temptation... (Mosiah 15:5)

He tells me what to do: follow Him, and do what He did. 

And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning. (3 Nephi 11:11)

All God asks is everything of the flesh.

“a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.” (Joseph Smith)

Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me. (Doctrine and Covenants 97:8)

Becoming the caterpillar that I already am only keeps me on the ground, in the mud; I don’t get to fly. The Monarch butterfly can go all over North America - from Mexico to Canada, and all over the United States! She is the Mariposa Reina, the queen, flying thousands of miles every year. Why would I want to continue to live and die a caterpillar -- even if I can be the best caterpillar in the world? No, I will make the sacrifice and let my own world die. I will gladly go into the chrysalis and give up all I know of crawling on the ground so I can be so much more. That’s the deal. It’s my pie-in-the-sky deal that I will always make, because I want more. I want to fly! 

I’ve been there. I have been where the author was, and I made a different decision. I was presented with everything I wanted in life and could have had all my desires fulfilled. I could have given up eternal things for temporal things and become integrated by the flesh. But, I made the other choice. Instead of choosing the body, I chose the spirit. I still have an integrated soul. I have peace. I have integrity, and all that goes with it. The war is over, and my spirit won, instead of my body. The good guys always win! God won instead of the devil. The eternal won over the temporal. I have overcome the world. I am a spiritual being. There is no anchor to hold me to the Earth. I’m no longer tempted by anything, or anyone, in the world. I reject everything temporary. I “have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” (Mosiah 5:2)

I made a good deal. It’s like I gave up a bottle of fine wine for a mansion on the coast. There is no comparison. The bottle may be consumed in minutes, and it’s gone, but the mansion is forever. I have not received my mansion, but I trust in the Lord that His promises are fulfilled. What a great deal! Monty would be so excited! I gave up the temporal for the eternal. 

The deal I made with God is real. It is a real choice. It is the only choice, ultimately. I can keep what I have in the world, or I can trade it in for something else hidden away behind the veil. I have to choose first. The Lord tells me it’s better. I believe. I take a chance. My faith is taking the chance and giving up the wild, the known, the world, comforts, and everything of the flesh. I always go for the deal. I never want to stay with what I have -- I want more. The sacrifice allows me to get what I really want -- Eternal Life! That’s flying! I trade in the physical, temporal, and immediate, for that which is spiritual, eternal, and distant. That’s the deal. In His own time, and in His own way, the Lord comes to everyone on the Earth and says, “Let’s make a deal!”

Belief

I have always wondered why people go to church. Why spend time and money? What do they get out of church attendance? It must be something important because so many people do it. Church attendance has been part of human life as far back as we have records to know. This is important to a lot of people, in every society, since the beginning of time. It must be very important!

People love to put themselves in a box of what they believe. They love their box. It’s dark. It’s safe. Others are in the same box. They talk to others who support them in their beliefs. The bigger the box, the more secure they feel. “A billion Catholics can’t be wrong!” They feel like the beliefs in their dark box must be true, because that’s what everyone is saying. We don’t know that everyone else is also in a box of belief. 

Whatever people believe that isn’t true puts them in a dark box. There is no light. There is no truth. Because of the darkness, people seek others to justify their beliefs. It’s important because I need the box to feel right, just, or true. If I feel alone, lonely, and insecure, I need others to support me in my beliefs.

If I’m in the Buddhist box, then I speak to Buddhists, and they tell me it’s all true, that they believe the same thing I do.

If I'm in a science box then I explain what I see, feel, and hear to those who go to the church of science, who believe the same things.

If I’m in the Catholic box, then I go to church to hear the priest tell me what I want to hear.

If I’m in the atheist box, then I read the works of Nietzsche so I can feel justified in my beliefs.

If I believe alcohol improves my social skills, then I will hang out with people who drink and cannot remember my social skills.

If I’m in a Latter-day Saint box, then I associate with others who bear testimony to me that it’s true, that I don’t have to think or go any further. I believe.

Everyone is in a box, until they break out of the box. However, most of the time that just puts them in a different box. The new box corresponds to their new beliefs, but they remain in ignorance. People break out of the Latter-day Saint box and jump into the Baptist box. They have all their Baptist friends telling them they did the right thing. It works both ways. There are many Baptists who jump into the Latter-day Saint box and have a bunch of Saints telling them they did a good thing. There are even united atheists to share their “not” beliefs. They irrationally try to prove a negative, never knowing what they do not know, and cannot see because of their beliefs. Yet, they continue to believe in the dark, using others to fill their need for justification. They think they have successfully gotten out of the box of belief, only to find themselves in another dark box with a different set of beliefs.

The box of belief is always dark. There is no light. There is no need for truth because the purpose of the box is to avoid the truth so we can feel justified without actually repenting. It seems like if we could just believe the right thing, we would be justified in our beliefs. Once we’re in a box of belief, the truth becomes irrelevant.

Seeking Forgiveness without Repentance

The reason we need a box is for justification. We justify our beliefs by looking to others who believe the same things. We congregate with others to share our beliefs so we can feel justified. It’s all about justification. In one sense, all of life is about justification. We are on probation in the world, being fallen from heaven, and need to be justified so we can return. All the boxes have a purpose in pretending to be justified. It almost seems like we can justify ourselves if we just get enough people to agree with us. Those who believe the same things I do help me to feel right.

For this reason, I don’t tolerate heresy. If someone is in my box, but doesn’t believe what I believe I will kick them out in so many ways. I will hate them. I will reject them. I won’t speak to them. I will speak ill of them. I will make up stories about them. I will discredit them any way I can. I will take their beliefs and prove them wrong. I will get others to prove them wrong. I may even argue with them, or fight. If I have a lot of power, I can torture them until they confess my beliefs. I need everyone to agree with me or I don’t feel I can be justified.

Or, if I come across any person who doesn’t believe the way I do, then I may try to get them to jump into my box. I want them to share my darkness. I want them to believe the way I do. At the same time, they may try to get me to believe the way they do. We’re all going around in our boxes, trying to convince everyone else that we’re right, and they’re wrong. Justification requires agreement from all. If they don’t accept my box, then they are mistaken, ignorant, or proud.

For most others, I just keep my box, remain in my comfortable darkness, and not bother others in their boxes. I allow them to believe whatever they will, and I will believe what I will, and we just won’t discuss “politics and religion” in polite company. I can allow others to feel justified in their beliefs the same way I feel justified in mine, though I’m sure they’re misled. 

Real Justification

The problem is, even for those searching for a better box, they are still always in a box out of which they cannot get. We’re often told that we need to have a box. Everyone needs a box. Everyone must have a belief system. Each can find their own way, and it’s perfectly fine for everyone to have different beliefs. All of them are fantasies. None of them actually justify. They give us the illusion of being right. They delude us into feeling righteous, straight, and just.

However, in spite of all the dark boxes of ignorance in the world, there is a reality -- there is truth. Outside of all the boxes is God. The Lord, Jesus Christ, can truly justify. There is no need for any organization of people to justify me, I don’t need consensus, I only seek truth. I believe in Jesus Christ, that there is no other way to be justified. I don’t need counseling or self-help books. I don’t need others to tell me I’m right. I don’t need to find another box. I don’t need any box at all, they are all fantasies. I only need truth, which is outside of all boxes. There is no box of truth. Truth is not darkness. Truth is light. I can see with the light. I can see all the boxes for what they are. 

That is how I know I have truth, it comes from God. If I’m dependent on anyone else for justification or corroboration of my beliefs, then I’m in a box of darkness. One atheist who made himself famous by writing books about atheism found justification in smart people, like Albert Einstein. He was dependent on other men for his knowledge. But that is not the same as truth, true knowledge comes from God. 

Being a Believer

Skeptics say they don’t believe, but without belief there is nothing. Everyone must believe something so skeptics believe what they have experienced, and don’t believe what others experience that they have not. The problem with being a skeptic is that it puts me in a box out of which I cannot get. I’m stuck with my own experiences, and all the gains I have are only confirmations of what I already believe. I cannot grow. I cannot learn new things. It feels like I’m learning, but there is no growth in “confirmation bias.”

Life is not about what exists, but rather what I believe. 

I can’t know what is true until I believe in it.

What I believe is everything in my world.

My beliefs define what I know.

I only see what I believe.

I only know what I believe.

It is only belief that allows me to see. Without belief I am blind to what is presented to me. I must believe first. Likewise, trying to teach someone who doesn’t believe my words is useless, wasting words. I think it’s important that the missionaries, Ammon and Aaron didn’t teach until they knew they would be believed. Aaron went to the king of the Lamanites. The king said, “ ‘I desire that ye should tell me concerning all these things, and I will believe thy words.’ And it came to pass that when Aaron saw that the king would believe his words, he began from the creation of Adam...” (Alma 22:11-12) When his brother, Ammon, taught Lamoni about God, he also first made sure Lamoni would believe:

Now Ammon being wise, yet harmless, he said unto Lamoni: Wilt thou hearken unto my words, if I tell thee by what power I do these things? And this is the thing that I desire of thee. And the king answered him, and said: Yea, I will believe all thy words. And thus he was caught with guile.

Alma 18:22-23

I only see what I believe. So if I only believe what I already know, and summarily reject all things outside of my beliefs, then I will never be able to grow. Growth comes from believing things that I don’t understand, don’t know, have never heard, or don’t currently believe.

Believing truth

There is only one thing worth believing -- truth. If I believe a falsehood it doesn’t help me at all, and may even bring suffering and death. During plagues, there were many who believed that amulets or other trinkets would save them from disease, but they suffered and died anyway because they didn’t know the simple truth of how the disease is contracted and treated. In modern medicine it is estimated that 85% of what our society believes will heal has no basis in fact. Treatments such as unnecessary surgery and medications do more harm than good because it isn’t true, no matter how much I believe in them.

Thus, it is imperative that I judge all my beliefs. Instead of being a skeptic, entrenched in my own dogma, I must ruthlessly judge each one of my beliefs to determine if it is true.

Changing beliefs from false to true

Paradoxically, the way out of my box of belief is to believe everything. By not being skeptical of the beliefs of others, but accepting them as potential truths, I am enabled to grow outside of what I already believe. I can do this by:

• Listening
• Being interested
• Seeking
• Knocking
• Looking for something more than I currently have
• Wanting to know
• Asking questions

I hear something that I don’t know about so I listen and withhold judgment. I don’t throw it out because it’s different and doesn’t fit with my beliefs, but rather listen with the potential to believe. I am a believing person. I believe everything until I judge it to be false. In other words, I don’t pass summary judgment on anything, but I seek evidence for that thing, and then I judge the evidence. 

I start by believing. If I don’t currently believe I can desire to believe, and based on that desire I can listen to the testimony of others until I believe.

...even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe

Alma 32:27

Once I believe, I can believe all things.

...we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things...

Articles of Faith 1:13

Believing all things is a characteristic of charity.

And charity... believeth all things...

Moroni 7:45

Being believing of all things is the way to find all the possibilities. God commands us to believe -- to be believing.

Search diligently, pray always, and be believing...

Doctrine and Covenants 90:24

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 9:23

The way out of my own dark box of belief isn't by giving up my beliefs, but to believe more -- believe everything. I must be able to hold all things in my mind at the same time without passing summary judgment on any of them. I just hold them as I gain evidence for them.

The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Judgment of beliefs

Two things are needed for judgment. The first is evidence, or an understanding of the thing. I cannot pass judgment if I don’t understand it. The second is a standard. There must be something outside myself that is reliable, firm, and true. A judge in a courtroom requires no less to pass judgment on a person accused of a crime. The judge must have both elements: evidence that gives understanding of all the circumstances surrounding the crime committed, and a standard, or laws, that are just and true. Without both elements the judge could make a mistake, either by convicting an innocent or by letting a criminal go free.

If I pass judgment without a basis in evidence, then I am a fool. 

Also, if I pass judgment based on false evidence then I’m still a fool. 

Dismissing ideas without wise judgment will only lead to false beliefs, suffering, and misery.

The Standard of Judgment

In a way, I only understand who I believe. If I believe God, then I will understand the things of God. But if I believe the devil then I will only understand those things that are not of God.

But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil;

Moroni 7:17

God is truth. Whatever is not of God is of the devil. So, either I believe God, or everything I believe is of the devil, or false. The devil is in all things that aren't true. This is essential to understand, because often two opposing falsehoods are presented for judgment as if one of them must be true. Sometimes, the answer is "neither one!" I can judge my beliefs and decide if I believe truth by knowing if it leads me to believe in Christ and serve God. This takes a great deal of humility. 

There have been many in the world over time who have insisted they were serving God by being destructive, hateful, and self-centered. That’s why there is a standard in the scriptures and the prophets, allowing anyone to judge righteous judgment. The scriptures are the word of God, and are true. Those things that have truth in them, that lead me to God and help me to believe in Jesus Christ I will keep as my own belief, while those things that are false, that do not lead me to Christ I will reject, and not believe. This gives me a standard by which to judge.

Gaining intelligence through belief

Learning truth requires that I believe contradicting ideas until I have enough evidence and basis to reject one or both as not being true. Intelligence is truth.

The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.

Doctrine and Covenants 93:36

Intelligence is gained through belief. Being believing is essential to growth. Knowledge cannot be gained by skeptics because it leaves them in a box of darkness. They block all light by not believing. Light and truth comes to those who believe all things, causing growth, knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence. It all starts with belief. It’s not what I know, it’s what I believe that matters. 

Here is a pattern for gaining intelligence:

• Believe everything (allows me to see)
• Gather evidence  (allows me to judge knowledgeably)
• Use a standard (allows me to judge correctly)
• Reject false beliefs (prevents suffering)
• Hold on to true beliefs (allows growth and intelligence)

If I believe everything, then all things are possible. Belief is everything.

How has faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, affected my life?

My life is different because I believe in Jesus Christ. I do different things than I would have otherwise. And because I do different things, I have different experiences; my knowledge is different -- indeed, my whole life is different. All I do is based on my beliefs. The things I do determine the things I know, and the things I have. I see the world differently; I see all of life differently. What is different, really? What do I do differently? How do I act differently? How do I feel differently? And, what difference does it make? The following is a list, in no order, of all the the ways my faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ has affected my life.

I’m familiar with eternity.
The Lord gives me dreams.
I know God.
I have received a righteous family.
I feel true love.
I have a broken heart.
I have a testimony of Jesus Christ.
I gave up my job.
I’ve been sealed for all eternity.
I posses the gift of charity.
I know why.
I let go of my children.
I have hope for my children.
I have been forgiven of my sins.
I keep the Sabbath day holy.
I served a full-time mission.
I went to the temple hundreds of times.
I know about creation.
I have found salvation.
I let go of my dreams.
I didn’t indulge in sexual appetites.
I didn’t do what I wanted.
I sacrificed my perfect home, rejected by my own.
I gave up my wife.
I seek to know the will of the Lord.
I walked away from my house that I built.
I sacrificed my land.
I have received revelations.
I no longer have a fallen nature.
I sacrificed my money.
I am a son of God.
I have learned wisdom.
I’m not an enemy to God.
I work for Him.
I have a contrite spirit.
I pray always.
I know my mission.
I have received the Holy Ghost.
I remember Him always.
I have written the word of God.
I know the Tongue of Angels.
I love others.
I have humility.
I know the prophets.
I seek permanence.
I’m not selfish.
I pray every day.
I don’t fear.
I have seen visions.
I’m not afraid of change.
I’m a prophet.
I pay tithing.
I’m not afraid of pain.
I have the gift of tongues.
I received the gift of healing.
I know the hymns of Zion.
I understand the scriptures.
I’m not afraid of losing everything.
Eternal life is in reach.
I don’t like temporal things.
I pay generous fast offerings.
I have hope.
I am qualified to do the work of the Lord.
I look forward to seeing Him.
I take the Sacrament.
I’m not afraid to die.
I know who I am.
I attend church every week.
I’ve spent thousands of hours searching the scriptures.

I have repented of all my sins.
I’ve been justified.
I don’t grieve death.
I have written thousands of pages in my journal.
I submit to leaders.
I am a just man.
I’m not interested in anything temporary.
I know myself.
I do everything for Him.
I quit lying.
I’ve spent thousands of hours on my knees.
I think of others.
I understand my own motivations.
I have compassion.
I have the Holy Spirit for my guide.
I didn’t seek pornography.
The things of the world don’t interest me.
I don’t seek wealth.
I submit to all the will of God.
I live for eternity.

Everything on this list would be different if I did not have faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Every one of them would be different. Exactly how they would differ, I cannot tell, but I wouldn’t be in any way the same. It’s night and day. There is no comparison. On the outside, from the view of others, I’m still just me. As Joseph Smith, Jr. said, “No man knows my history.” Nobody can see any of the things that make up my faith in Christ. Nobody can see my heart. Nobody knew me before, and nobody knows me now -- except for Him. The journey is hard, at times, but always filled with wonder because I love learning and growth. I am so grateful for Him, for all He is, for all He does, and for including me in His mercy, grace, love, and charity. Blessed be His holy name forever!

The Ghost in the Machine

The body is like a machine that allows a spirit to function in the physical world, like a car has a driver that controls it. Without the driver, the car will not go, nor function -- it’s dead (unless it’s a zombie, or self-driving). The driver gets in the car, turns it on, and controls every aspect of its function: speed, direction, gears, lights, air conditioning, and so forth. While some functions may be automatic, each still can be controlled by the driver. Likewise, a spirit controls a body. Without the spirit, a body is just a dead machine. It has no function until inhabited by a spirit. The spirit gets in and drives the body.

I was born into a body and have learned how to manage it by trial and error. It has taken a long time to learn to manage the automatic functions of the body. I know when there are needs that must be filled, such as food for energy. I seek to make sure the body is cared-for. Just as a driver would learn to keep regular maintenance on a car, changing the oil, putting in the right kind of fuel, getting brakes checked, rotating tires, and so forth, I keep regular maintenance on my body. On a continuous basis, I eat the right kind of nutrients, sleep at the right time, bathe regularly, keep my bowel and bladder habits regular, and exercise every muscle, not waiting for the “idiot lights” to come on. I also learn to be careful about appetites, passions, and desires of the body that will cause decay and dysfunction. A “sweet-tooth” can cause dental caries, obesity, diabetes, and other problems. Any indulgence in pleasure can weaken my control over the body. Too much rest causes physical weakness. However, a total lack of pleasure may cause the body to rebel against the driver, refusing to function. Over time, I learn the right amounts of everything to keep the machine functional, and happy.

Just as a car can have many passengers, multiple spirits can be in the body at the same time. A man possessed of evil spirits was brought to Jesus, “And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.” (Luke 8:30) One drives, and the rest are passengers. Though they can take turns driving. The other spirits that are with me are continually trying to take over control and sit in the driver’s seat. They try to be indulgent of sensations. They take me down roads I don't want to go. They create anxiety, fear, depression, hopelessness, hatred, or whatever they are -- they make the body feel and do physically what they are spiritually. Because of this, they disrupt my ability to be in control. There is a continual battle for the driver’s seat.

The Holy Ghost can also inhabit my body with me, as long as I make room by getting rid of all the rebellious passengers. They will not listen to the Holy Ghost so the Spirit will not come in to my body until they are gone. The process of repentance is cleaning out my body, getting rid of rowdy, evil, dark, hateful, hurtful, and indulgent spirits.The Holy Ghost will then be the navigator, but will not take control away from me, except in an emergency. Sometimes Jesus does take the wheel. But, mostly, I remain alone in the driver’s seat to learn to drive, being in control of every aspect of the function of the body as the Holy Ghost tells me what to do. Nephi tells me “...the Holy Ghost,,, will show unto you all things what ye should do.” (2 Nephi 32:5)

Over time, I gain experience and become a good driver. I keep my body in good shape for the road. I’m on a road trip with the Holy Ghost. I don’t know the way. I can only see the road immediately in front of me. I have a map, the scriptures, but since I’m not familiar with the area, I’m not sure how to read them. But with the help of the Holy Ghost, Nephi also says, “the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” (2 Nephi 32:3). My Navigator helps me to understand every word. We have stops along the way, places to see, people to know, and things to do. My trip gives me experiences that help me to grow and learn, meaning sometimes it's hard. Everyone has a different trip, a different path with different experiences. My map is different than that of anyone else. I cannot loan my map to anyone any more than I can loan my glasses to anyone. It’s my personal trip.

Sometimes, I take a detour off the map. I see a road to the left that looks like a fun place to go. I’m in control, and I don’t need a Navigator so He leaves. I drive along for awhile, having fun, enjoying the ride, until the way gets hard, steep, and rocky. I wasn’t prepared for this, and I need help. I pray and ask the Holy Ghost to return. He gets me back on the road, and I resolve never to stray from the path again -- until something on the right looks interesting! Gradually, I learn to listen to my Navigator, and stay on the path. I grow from being dependent, to independent. At some point I have enough experience to help others who have lost their way. I don’t know their map, so I can’t point the way for them to go, I can only help them to get their Navigator, and He gets them back on their path.

While the path is amazing and filled with wonders, this road trip ends like no other. There is nothing along the way that can even compare. For each traveler, no matter how they get there, the road leads to unity of body and spirit, peace, happiness, and love. It is reaching my full potential, being all that I can be. It is “eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” (D&C 14:7) There is no way to explain how wonderful it is because it must be experienced. Those who do not take this trip with the Holy Ghost, or who go off the road and never get back on will never arrive, and will never know what they might have had. Only those who “have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide” (D&C 45:57) can ever know God, a fullness of joy, and experience completely the wonders of His love.

Lessons from COVID-19

The only SARS-CoV-2 positive case I personally know did it right. Jo is 64 and active but has one risk factor -- chronic intermittent bronchitis. When she gets any cold, it turns into bronchitis every time and she will cough for months. She was given the nickname “BARK” because of her chronic barky cough. She was worried, rightly so, of getting sick during the pandemic so she did everything right. She took vitamin D 10,000 IU daily, as well as vitamin C and Zinc. She stayed at home with her husband, only going out for food. She kept her “social distance,” not interacting with others.

Four weeks ago, she suddenly got a fever of 100.5, and the worst headache of her life. She felt generally ill, so she went to the hospital to get tested. She increased her Vitamin D3 to 50,000 IU daily for four days, as well as Vitamin C 4,000 mg and Zinc 100 mg. The next day, the headache and fever were gone, but she still felt weak and sick, and she started getting a cough -- she was worried now.

That same day the test came back positive and the county health department called her, telling her to stay in quarantine for two weeks. They asked about her travel and ill contacts -- any potential exposure -- but she had none. The 48-hours prior to her illness were spent at home with no outside contact at all.

She continued the high-dose vitamins and zinc every day, and by the fourth day she was feeling better, (Plaquenil, or hydroxychloroquine, takes five days to work) and she decreased her vitamins back to baseline. She still had a cough, but it didn’t get worse, and she had no shortness of breath. The cough lasted for about a month, much less than usual, for her. She is now better, and was free to go to her daughter’s wedding, and visit family in New York. Her husband stayed home because he never got sick and wasn’t tested.

Historical Perspective
The most poignant lesson from history is that orthodox teachings are always wrong. Most prophets are rejected because they are unorthodox. Anyone teaching the truth who gets a following will be ostracized, censored, or killed. Nothing has changed. We like to think we’re enlightened because we have amazing technology, but we’re still learning, just like in eons past. Our official orthodox religion taught in every school and public organization is no different than ancient cults and religions, but, instead of mystical and powerful gods, we just use statistics. A quote from Mark Twain is relevant:

Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."

- Mark Twain's Own Autobiography: The Chapters from the North American Review

We are no different. Our culture is not enlightened. Nothing has changed. In the 1700’s the orthodoxy believed that scurvy was caused by evil spirits or bad humors. People who had the disease were bled mercilessly, buried up to their necks in hot sand, given mercury or other toxic “medicine,” or insufflated with a smoke enema. The truth about vitamin C was rejected while people suffered and died for fifty years after the cure was discovered. 

We are no different today. We continue with the same dangerous, toxic, and painful treatments for decades after we know they don’t work, and cures are discovered. Medical schools are still ten to fifty years behind the science in most areas. For example, a scientist at UCLA wrote a book a few years ago about his research on how to cure Alzheimer’s disease, but it isn’t found in medical schools, nor even on the website of the Alzheimer’s Association. I have not yet spoken with a neurologist who has read, or is even aware of, the book. I suppose those with the disease will have to suffer for fifty years like the sailors with scurvy in the 1700’s. It’s like Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr said:

                Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

In other words, if we base our beliefs on what everyone is saying, then we become part of the problem. Truth must not be made public; it must be kept in private so as not to offend the orthodoxy. So, as I may discern truth, I would like to share it with you, in private – my personal opinion. 😊

Beyond Toilet Paper – Be Prepared
The Boy Scout motto is appropriate for all times and all places. I am not a prophet, but those whom I know are prophets are telling us that COVID-19 is a harbinger of things to come. We have experienced a “test case” of what could happen if there is “germ warfare” on the planet. This was nothing, compared to what is possible. What we learn from this is essential to know:

• ·         The “official” strategies for prevention and treatment are not based on science.
• ·         Immune function is more important than treatment.
• ·         What really works for prevention.
• ·         How to prevent and treat “novel” illnesses.

The Science of Prevention – What Doesn’t Work

Masks:
Research since the 1970's tells us that within a few minutes of donning a mask, the output is the same as not having one. Research from 2016 may the most telling in that rather than just looking at output indicates the actual potential for infection. In this review, over 2000 cases comparing surgeons wearing masks with those not wearing them at all found no difference in the infection rate.[i]

In other words, the research indicates masks don’t prevent me from spreading infection to you, in spite of what we have been told by the CDC.[ii] Their “recent studies” to justify the recommendation to wear masks are found at the bottom of the web page, and have nothing to do with mask wearing. However, there is some evidence that wearing a mask may increase your risk of respiratory infections.[iii]

And if you think you can do better with an N95 mask, think again. One study compares N95 masks to surgical masks in healthcare workers, concluding:

“Conclusions and relevance: Among outpatient health care personnel, N95 respirators vs medical masks as worn by participants in this trial resulted in no significant difference in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza.”[iv]

So, there is more evidence that wearing masks is, at best, useless, and at worst, harmful. Face coverings are not going to protect you from infection. We are better off tying our bandannas around our waist so there is less touching of the face. Don’t put your trust in things that are not going to work.

Staying Home:
Taiwan, South Korea, and Sweden took proper measures and did not shut down their economies, putting millions out of work:[v] (click on the link for a series of graphs that compare the U.S., South Korea, Taiwan, and Sweden)

https://ourworldindata.org/covid-deaths?country=USA~KOR~SWE~TWN

So, staying home from school and work does not help prevent the spread of illness. We were told it would “flatten the curve,” but in no case did a curve get flat. In fact, where testing is done randomly in highly populated areas the cases have been many multiples higher than when only sick people are tested.[vi] [vii] Thus, the curve was not flattened, we just didn’t monitor enough people to see how many cases there really were. The examples where countries didn’t have “stay-at-home” orders did not have a steeper curve than those that did. (see above) Moreover, people who stay at home are at higher risk for getting severe illness.[viii]

Overall death statistics are equivalent to a normal flu season.

The primary issue with statistics is that people have a hard time distinguishing “absolute” from “relative” numbers. In analyzing thousands of medical studies over the years, I have found it best to start with the foundation, the raw numbers, or the absolute numbers. Once the statisticians start making relative numbers, they can show just about anything from the same raw numbers. For example, when I sent out the CDC statistics on the Coronavirus, people were confused. I was saying that this is just a normal flu season, but everyone was hearing about huge spikes in deaths due to Coronavirus. This I will explain:

Every year, we have a “flu season” where the death rate goes up, from November to May. During the summer months the death rate is always significantly lower. The CDC puts out the “expected” number of deaths for each “flu season” based on past experience and the current population. If the number of deaths exceeds that, it is considered a high “flu season.” It is also important to define “flu.” This refers to the cases of “flu-like illness” which includes pneumonia. The individual organisms, such as Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Coronavirus, Orthomyxovirus, Paramyxovirus, Adenovirus, Mycobacterium, and so forth, are not distinguished. So, Coronavirus has always been included in the statistic.

Now, if we look at the total expected deaths during the “flu season” of 2019-2020, we get about 100%.[ix] In other words, this wasn’t even a “bad” flu season – Just average. However, if we look at the cases of Coronavirus, as a percentage of the total number of deaths, it looks like an epidemic.[x] This is the difference between absolute and relative statistics. Why did the death from this one virus increase so much without increasing the total number of deaths? The CDC keeps statistics based on death certificates. A diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 brings a lot more money to a hospital, especially if they are put on a ventilator. Thus, the number of diagnoses increased. You get what you pay for.

The point is, if you believe you are safe because you are wearing a mask or staying home you have a greater chance of becoming a statistic because it's the wrong thing. This is like wearing flowers to protect you from the Plague, or wearing a rabbit's foot to prevent Scurvy. Actually, the research indicates you may be better-off wearing a rabbit’s foot to prevent Coronavirus, rather than a mask.

Vaccines
While it may be that some vaccines are useful, one must be very careful to apply each to their own needs. In every case, you must weigh the risks versus the benefits of the vaccine. If a doctor or anyone tells you there are no risks, then find better information elsewhere.

For example, the influenza vaccine is made every year on a guess as to what might come to the U.S. The 2018-20019 season produced the following statistics:

Virus by Patient Age	No. Vaccinated/Total No. (% Vaccinated)		VE (95% CI), %
	Influenza-Positive (Case Patients)	Influenza Negative (Noncase Patients)
All influenza viruses
All ages	1316/2763 (48)	4065/7249 (56)	29

Again, looking at the real numbers, we have 48% of those infected with the influenza last year were vaccinated, and 56% of those testing negative were vaccinated. From here statisticians work their magic to show “relative” effectiveness of the vaccine put at 29%, meaning people are 29% less likely to test positive if they had the vaccine. [xv] Every year, about half of those who get influenza had the vaccine. A truly effective vaccine would have no positives.

I had a patient who started getting seizures after a flu vaccine, which really affected her life. Her case was not reported to VAERS (vaccine adverse event reporting system) so it is not part of the statistics. I suspect that most vaccine adverse events aren’t reported so we cannot rely on statistics to help us make decisions on whether to vaccinate. However, in the case of the influenza, knowing that the effectiveness is questionable, at best, and the rare complications include permanent neurological damage, it is easy to decide.

Keep this in mind when a “CORONA-VAX” is being peddled. Don’t look at the percentages or relative numbers, look at the absolute numbers.

Ventilators
Not everyone understands the difference between a respirator and a ventilator. A ventilator is a machine that breaths for us. It is the old “iron lung” in a small package. It requires a tube in the trachea (windpipe) that pushes air into the lungs. When people can’t breathe because their muscles are not working, these are amazingly useful tools. However, when there is fluid in the lungs, preventing oxygen from getting to the blood, these don’t work. Also, our normal way of breathing is to contract muscles in the ribs and diaphragm, causing negative pressure in the chest, sucking air through the nose and into the lungs. A ventilator uses positive pressure to push air into the lungs. The problems associated with this includes popping, and collapsing lungs. For these reasons, 88% of those infected with the Coronavirus died if they were put on a ventilator. In this “epidemic” more ventilators equals more deaths, fewer ventilators equals fewer deaths. Only one in ten survive the ventilator. Be careful of the treatment options.

Drugs that fuel the virus
Anything that inhibits the function of immune cells, especially innate immunity, will cause more infections and death. One interesting twist to this particular virus is the way it attaches to cells. It binds to a receptor called Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2). Interestingly, the cells of people who are taking blood pressure medications that inhibit this enzyme have five times the number of these receptors.[xvi]

The CDC shows that the most common co-morbid condition of those who were hospitalized for the Coronavirus infection is hypertension. This may be because lots of people have hypertension, or because they take ACE inhibitors and have more receptors for the virus.

Be careful of the medications you are taking; they may make you more susceptible to infectious diseases.

The Science of Prevention – What Does Work

Handwashing

For almost two centuries hand washing has been the most effective way to prevent illness in the health care industry. Studies specifically on viral illnesses like influenza show that it might help, but some studies failed to find a difference. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6461122/) Even the studies that showed hand washing could prevent respiratory illnesses and flu, the best one could do is a 50% reduction. In one study after people in a household got sick, hand washing was recommended, but it didn't work at all because it was instituted after one of them got sick. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4465839/)  So, hand washing might help, but can't be relied-on to keep you safe from illness. The best way is, by far, to have an intact immune system. This allows us to have contact with illness, develop immunity against it, and not get sick. Nevertheless, it is essential that we continue to wash our hands, and try not to spread illness around. 

Immunity

Our immune systems are AWESOME! A fully-functional immune system will prevent ANY infection or cancer. If you think of the immune system as soldiers, you are only getting part of the story. Your immune system is more like a janitor, keeping the body clean, clearing up all the debris, and putting everything in its place. Yes, it does kill “foreign invaders,” but it’s like I told my daughter when she was feeling sorry for the spiders in our house:

We only kill spiders because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Let that be a lesson to you!

Sometimes bacteria or viruses are welcomed by the body; our bodies make food (fucose) especially for them to grow. We carry around more of them, by far, than we do of “our own” cells. Most of the DNA we carry is from microorganisms. The blood is not sterile, but is constantly being cleaned by the immune system. There is a lot going on in the blood, so the need to clean is constant. In my kitchen at home I sweep the floor several times per day when people are there. I may run the dishwasher two or three times per day, and, of course, the carpets must be vacuumed regularly. It’s not that we don’t like dirt, but rather we want the dirt to stay outside, where it belongs, and not inside. Likewise, the efforts to keep the body clean are the constant domain of the immune system, keeping everything in its proper place.

So, how do we keep the immune system functional? Glad you asked!

Vitamin D
Some people get viral infections without symptoms because of their “innate” or “cellular” immune system. Before antibodies are ever made, the macrophages can take out infected cells before they become a virus factory, and then present it to the B-cells, which then make antibodies. Thus, the patient gets immunity without ever getting sick. The body makes “macrophage activating factor” (MAF) to start this process, which is vitamin D binding protein. This is why it is essential to have enough vitamin D, and also why “flu season” is in the winter, when we don’t make vitamin D.

I have tested many people for vitamin D levels and ask how much they take. Generally I find:

Dose of Vitamin D3	Blood level
400 IU (the RDA)	<30
2,000 IU	40
5,000 IU	50
10,000	70

The optimum level of vitamin D is 70-90 for the prevention of cancer and viral infections. Consider that twenty minutes in the sunshine on a summer day can net you 25,000 IU and you will understand what a physiologic dose is.

Vitamin C
Research with vitamin C shows that high doses can relieve the symptoms of viral illness, and supplementing with higher doses may prevent illness. For those with viral illnesses, vitamin C supplementation shortens the time of illness between twenty and fifty percent.

The white blood cells concentrate vitamin C from the blood over ten times. A healthy person absorbs about 200 mg per day of vitamin C, but when we get sick, we can absorb about 6,000 mg per day. Lower dosing during healthy times and higher dosing during illness seems to be best. During illness, those who had sufficient levels while healthy become relatively deficient, suppressing the immune response. Increasing vitamin C during a respiratory illness seems to prevent pneumonia in animals and humans.[xi]

Zinc
One common deficiency in the world is zinc, especially in men. Zinc is essential for function of the immune system.  In this case, however, more is not better, you only need enough – until you get sick. Zinc shortens the time of infection significantly.[xii] [xiii]

The dose of zinc is tricky. People who take too much can get copper deficiency, which will cause other problems, because zinc and copper compete for absorption. The nutritionists recommend about 11 mg per day of zinc. Those who are vegetarian many need more zinc, partly because the food has less, and partly because of phytates that bind zinc in the intestines, preventing absorption. My personal belief is to take a supplement of about 100mg once per week.

Now, again, like Vitamin C, zinc will shorten the time of illness, and you can take much more during an illness. I recommend around 200 mg per day during the course of an illness. Then, when you feel better, go back to 100 mg once per week.

Avoid Sugar
A note about sugar is in order since we’re discussing the immune system. Avoid sugar like the plague! (pun intended) Because eating sugar suppresses the immune response.[xiv] It’s amazing that people will do something useless like stay indoors and wear masks to prevent an illness, but won’t avoid sugar. If you see something sweet, train yourself to immediately think of it as 8 hours of letting your guard down. This is high-risk behavior.

How to lower Stress
Watching TV creates fear. The purpose of TV news is to create an emotional response. The simplest response to elicit is fear. Fear is stress. Moreover, there are so many different voices it becomes confusing. The people I know who watch TV lose their ability to be discerning, not knowing what to believe. Don’t watch TV, especially the “news.”

There are a few other things that help us keep a normal circadian rhythm, which keeps the immune system functioning:

• ·         Go to bed at 10 PM. The two hours of sleep before midnight are the most important for releasing Growth Hormone (HGH) to initiate the anabolic metabolism. This is the part of the day when you repair, cleanse, and detox from all the day’s activities.
• ·         No food after 6 PM is a great rule so you have an empty stomach when you go to bed at 10 PM. The empty stomach makes GHRELIN (growth hormone releasing hormone) that allows repair of the stomach, intestines, and the whole body. This way you will be ready for the next day, able to absorb all the nutrition you need. You can do even better by eating two meals per day, ending at 3 PM.
• ·         Eat breakfast by 8 AM. This starts the day, or the catabolic state. In fact, it is best to eat at 8 AM and 3 PM, and skip dinner altogether, giving you more time to be anabolic. This form of intermittent fasting works with your circadian rhythm to promote a fully-functional immune system.

Our Own Demise

Last, and most important, I would like to deal with death. As the medical director of a nursing home, this is something I deal with regularly. I sign a lot of death certificates. I think it is essential that the reality of your eventual demise be at the forefront of your mind at all times. Continually ask yourself, “Am I now doing everything on my ‘bucket list?’” Rather than neglect this reality, or try to postpone it, make it a part of your daily life. The sooner you deal with your mortality in a real way, the better. The reason this is so important is that when you hear some person on TV tell you that they will save you, you can know that it's not true and you won't get sucked into the vortex of lies.

I had a “wake-up call” about ten years ago when a colleague of mine died unexpectedly. He was my age. His patients, who were much older and all had “death sentences” (cancer) outlived him. We don’t know how long we’re going to live so we need to be prepared to go at any time. I believe that our days are numbered and we don’t extend nor diminish our time as mortals, but we can increase our enjoyment of whatever time we have by staying healthy.

Last week I had a patient in the nursing home who said he died twice in one day and was resuscitated. One of those times he remembers being outside his body, looking at what the doctors were doing, and was amazed at how good it felt to be out of pain. Then, they shocked him, and he was back in pain again. He said he’s not afraid to die.

I would not say that you shouldn’t hang on to life in any circumstance, but rather acknowledge your mortality and live every day to the fullest – “to live like you were dying.” (with apologies to Tim McGraw) I have people in my office who do nothing but try to prevent death. They take hundreds of dollars of vitamins every month, whether they need them, or not. One woman brought in two shopping bags filled with pill bottles. She wanted to discuss each of them. I asked her what she did all day, and she admitted that her life mostly revolved around supplements. The constant focus on preventing death really just prevents people from living.

So, when the next “pandemic” hits, you will be prepared, you will be able to take care of yourself, and you will not fear. You will have the right food, and enough toilet paper. You will have the right supplements and know how to take them. You will have a healthy circadian rhythm. You will not be swayed by media reports. You will not fear death, but continue to live your life in the best way you can. And, if you survive it, you will be a rock – like Jo. Jo is so happy to have had the virus because she now feels free. She no longer wears a mask (unless required), she is traveling and enjoying her life.

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[i] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7138271/

[ii] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html

[iii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2662657/

[iv] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31479137/

[v] https://ourworldindata.org/covid-deaths?country=USA~KOR~SWE~TWN

[vi] https://news.usc.edu/170565/covid-19-antibody-study-coronavirus-infections-los-angeles-county/

[vii] https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.14.20062463v2

[viii] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-higher-risk.html

[ix] https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/COVID19/index.htm

[x] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covidview/index.html#mortality

[xi] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5409678/

[xii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3394849/

[xiii] https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/10/4/696/5476413

[xiv] https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/prevention/does-sugar-really-suppress-the-immune-system?utm_source=sciam&utm_campaign=sciam

[xv] https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/221/1/8/5609441

[xvi] James H Diaz. Hypothesis: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers may increase the risk of severe COVID-19. Journal of Travel Medicine, 2020; DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taaa041