Deceptive Practices

I wonder, sometimes, if certain customs or traditions that have come to be part of our culture aren’t started for more nefarious purposes.

WARNING!!!

The following is not a justification for the practices of fundamentalists or other weirdos and I am not advocating changing the laws that are addressed.  This is just a thought that I believe may have some substance in truth.

I have been teaching the Old Testament this year and as we follow the history of the prophets and their families, we see that many of the ancients chose close relatives (nieces, cousins, uncles) as their mates in order that they might keep the covenant they had made with God to marry worthily (at this point most of my students are grossed out by the idea of marrying in the family-- but who else would Adam’s children marry).  In most cases, there were few if any, other followers of Christ in their vicinity (see Gen. 24).

In our day, it is not only frowned upon, but is also illegal to marry someone who is too closely related (I believe the common gap must be no closer than 3^rd cousin).  The rationale is that those types of marriages will result in birth defects and other problems.

I accept that and, again, am not advocating change but just calling attention to another possibility.

Could it also be that this is one of the ways Satan has tried to disturb the order of God’s plan for His children as they come to earth?  The adversary has committed himself to damaging the eternal life of as many of God’s sons and daughters as possible.  Why not limit the range of choices they have in all the cases he can.

Marrying relatives is not the issue here.  It is the deceptions Satan has foisted on the world in an effort to stop/cripple/disrupt the Plan of God.  The challenges are endless and will continue to grow as the time approaches for the “end of the world.”  

Man must be wise in the things chosen to follow and support.

Though some may disagree, I do not believe the call for population control is about not having enough food, space and water.  Never for a moment have I believed that the legalization of abortion has anything to do with a woman’s right to control her body.  And I refuse to accept the false teaching that says two people, no matter their gender, are justified in seeking to destroy the sanctity of the family.  Each of these “doctrines” is simply the work of the great destroyer and his minions battling to destroy the sacred family of God.

As Jacob taught:

O, that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not.  And they shall perish.  (2 Nephi 9:28)

That is the truth and will remain so as long as eternity.  No amount of deception from the world will ever make these things true.

(I know, this is another of dad’s rants and most will ignore but the principle is true even if the subject isn’t exciting)