Another Timeline Critiera

[harakim]

I have been thinking lately: If I were in power and I wanted to reign over everyone and destroy the church, what would I do?

I've mentioned my thought that we will see deflation at a point where they think they have won and will not let off the gas.

Well, I think destroying religion is one of the goals of the powers that be. And what has caused people to turn against religion so easily? Comfort. Most poeple in America choose comfort over everything, especially growth. Think about any liberal, church-haters you know (if you're in Utah, you probably know some at least.) Don't they obssess about iPhones, concerts and that kind of stuff? They fund that stuff with money. I think the prosperity over the last 60 years or so is THE KEY to the decline in religion. I don't mean prosperity in it's truest sense, but the ease with which someone can have a comfortable life. It is much easier now than at any time in the past. Both the good economy and the welfare systems contribute to this.

You can see that Europe has stricken the balance even better since World War 2 and their rates of church attendance are lower than the US. As we move more socialist and a pointless, comfortable life is easier to obtain, we have seen the rates fall here.

So I am proposing... they will need to sustain this upbeat economy for the lower classes until they have religion on the ropes. Until we start seeing tax exempt status removed, it would then seem that the economy will be good. Otherwise, I would say that those in power are not trying to destroy religion or there is no one in power. (Both of which I doubt but could believe.)

Perhaps we are in the 7 years of plenty talked about. I would like to hear other thoughts on this.

[Silver]

I have been thinking lately: If I were in power and I wanted to reign over everyone and destroy the church, what would I do?

I've mentioned my thought that we will see deflation at a point where they think they have won and will not let off the gas.

Well, I think destroying religion is one of the goals of the powers that be. And what has caused people to turn against religion so easily? Comfort. Most poeple in America choose comfort over everything, especially growth. Think about any liberal, church-haters you know (if you're in Utah, you probably know some at least.) Don't they obssess about iPhones, concerts and that kind of stuff? They fund that stuff with money. I think the prosperity over the last 60 years or so is THE KEY to the decline in religion. I don't mean prosperity in it's truest sense, but the ease with which someone can have a comfortable life. It is much easier now than at any time in the past. Both the good economy and the welfare systems contribute to this.

You can see that Europe has stricken the balance even better since World War 2 and their rates of church attendance are lower than the US. As we move more socialist and a pointless, comfortable life is easier to obtain, we have seen the rates fall here.

So I am proposing... they will need to sustain this upbeat economy for the lower classes until they have religion on the ropes. Until we start seeing tax exempt status removed, it would then seem that the economy will be good. Otherwise, I would say that those in power are not trying to destroy religion or there is no one in power. (Both of which I doubt but could believe.)

Perhaps we are in the 7 years of plenty talked about. I would like to hear other thoughts on this.

Good points. However, I must disagree with you about the "7 years of plenty" topic. The "economic growth" ballyhooed by a submissive press during Obama's presidency was faker than all the recent fake news discussed nationally. However, if we are going to equate that "recovery" with the seven years of plenty, then I suppose we could consider ourselves at the very end of the prosperous times even though I personally feel that when President Hinckley spoke of the seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine, he was referring to conditions while he was still alive.

Elder Bednar was quoted in the "New Self-Reliance" thread. It is instructive:
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2017/07/on-t ... p?lang=eng

Are we going to hang on as the elites try to destroy religion (as if they really could) or at least, our reliance on God? Elder Bednar encourages us to do so.

[BeNotDeceived]

... I don't mean prosperity in it's truest sense, but the ease with which someone can have a comfortable life. It is much easier now than at any time in the past. Both the good economy and the welfare systems contribute to this. ..

Perhaps we are in the 7 years of plenty talked about. I would like to hear other thoughts on this.

Here are two latest estimates

GDP NOW Latest forecast: 2.6 percent — July 11, 2017
Morgan Stanley raises U.S. quarter second GDP view to 3.2 percent

towards establishing (April, May & June) quarter as the first of two needed to mark the beginning of said period of prosperity IAW Behold, I have forewarned you ...

How does GDP growth relate to what you refer to as “prosperity in it’s truest sense”?

[harakim]

... I don't mean prosperity in it's truest sense, but the ease with which someone can have a comfortable life. It is much easier now than at any time in the past. Both the good economy and the welfare systems contribute to this. ..

Perhaps we are in the 7 years of plenty talked about. I would like to hear other thoughts on this.

Here are two latest estimates

GDP NOW Latest forecast: 2.6 percent — July 11, 2017
Morgan Stanley raises U.S. quarter second GDP view to 3.2 percent

towards establishing (April, May & June) quarter as the first of two needed to mark the beginning of said period of prosperity IAW Behold, I have forewarned you ...

How does GDP growth relate to what you refer to as “prosperity in it’s truest sense”?

Prosperity in its truest sense is the ability to do what you want because you have what you need. It wouldn't count if you're relying on a third party (like China) for it. Paper like dollars and stocks are not going to be a measure of prosperity because they can vanish in an instant. So GDP..? Itself it's not a good metric because it includes stocks and things but it's probably pretty accurate because of the correlation to things like me having a job.

[harakim]

I have been thinking lately: If I were in power and I wanted to reign over everyone and destroy the church, what would I do?

I've mentioned my thought that we will see deflation at a point where they think they have won and will not let off the gas.

Well, I think destroying religion is one of the goals of the powers that be. And what has caused people to turn against religion so easily? Comfort. Most poeple in America choose comfort over everything, especially growth. Think about any liberal, church-haters you know (if you're in Utah, you probably know some at least.) Don't they obssess about iPhones, concerts and that kind of stuff? They fund that stuff with money. I think the prosperity over the last 60 years or so is THE KEY to the decline in religion. I don't mean prosperity in it's truest sense, but the ease with which someone can have a comfortable life. It is much easier now than at any time in the past. Both the good economy and the welfare systems contribute to this.

You can see that Europe has stricken the balance even better since World War 2 and their rates of church attendance are lower than the US. As we move more socialist and a pointless, comfortable life is easier to obtain, we have seen the rates fall here.

So I am proposing... they will need to sustain this upbeat economy for the lower classes until they have religion on the ropes. Until we start seeing tax exempt status removed, it would then seem that the economy will be good. Otherwise, I would say that those in power are not trying to destroy religion or there is no one in power. (Both of which I doubt but could believe.)

Perhaps we are in the 7 years of plenty talked about. I would like to hear other thoughts on this.

Good points. However, I must disagree with you about the "7 years of plenty" topic. The "economic growth" ballyhooed by a submissive press during Obama's presidency was faker than all the recent fake news discussed nationally. However, if we are going to equate that "recovery" with the seven years of plenty, then I suppose we could consider ourselves at the very end of the prosperous times even though I personally feel that when President Hinckley spoke of the seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine, he was referring to conditions while he was still alive.

Elder Bednar was quoted in the "New Self-Reliance" thread. It is instructive:
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2017/07/on-t ... p?lang=eng

Are we going to hang on as the elites try to destroy religion (as if they really could) or at least, our reliance on God? Elder Bednar encourages us to do so.

Thanks for posting the ensign article. I don't get the ensign. It's very interesting to read that after I formulated the post.

@BeNotDeceived Interesting link to that other post.

I'll be thinking about this for the next few days.

[Matchmaker]

I have been thinking lately: If I were in power and I wanted to reign over everyone and destroy the church, what would I do?

I've mentioned my thought that we will see deflation at a point where they think they have won and will not let off the gas.

Well, I think destroying religion is one of the goals of the powers that be. And what has caused people to turn against religion so easily? Comfort. Most poeple in America choose comfort over everything, especially growth. Think about any liberal, church-haters you know (if you're in Utah, you probably know some at least.) Don't they obssess about iPhones, concerts and that kind of stuff? They fund that stuff with money. I think the prosperity over the last 60 years or so is THE KEY to the decline in religion. I don't mean prosperity in it's truest sense, but the ease with which someone can have a comfortable life. It is much easier now than at any time in the past. Both the good economy and the welfare systems contribute to this.

You can see that Europe has stricken the balance even better since World War 2 and their rates of church attendance are lower than the US. As we move more socialist and a pointless, comfortable life is easier to obtain, we have seen the rates fall here.

So I am proposing... they will need to sustain this upbeat economy for the lower classes until they have religion on the ropes. Until we start seeing tax exempt status removed, it would then seem that the economy will be good. Otherwise, I would say that those in power are not trying to destroy religion or there is no one in power. (Both of which I doubt but could believe.)

Perhaps we are in the 7 years of plenty talked about. I would like to hear other thoughts on this.

The adversary is also using changing attitudes toward morality to destroy the Church. Just 50 years ago people rarely lived together prior to marriage. Today look at the statistics. Few had illegal abortions or out of wedlock pregnancies. Now look at the abortion rates. Homosexuality was in the closet. Today Gay marriage is accepted, along with transgender rights. When I was young, I only knew of one male teacher who messed around with a student, and nobody cared about it. Now we hear about it almost every day, and it seems like it is the female teacher who is getting in trouble the most instead of the male. The list can go on and on.

[ldsmem]

How does GDP growth relate to what you refer to as “prosperity in it’s truest sense”?

I'd say It doesn't, forget about GDP growth percentages and trying to create/define a definition of prosperity according to Godless economists, governments, and corporations

Prosperity has to do with...is there food available to be bought and eaten? Are the grocery stores open? Are the crops getting harvested? Are you or your family and friends not starving in general?
Then you just might be living in prosperity. It doesn't mean everyone is a millionaire or every corporation is making money hand over fist. That would be silly opulence and frivolous decadence.

It is quite clear, that in the last 7 years we have had prosperity.

The juxtaposition of this will become very clear, when the 7 years of famine start ramping up soon. When stores are not open. When you can't feed your family three meals a day with leftovers and food sitting around in the pantry. When war and pestilence proliferate. Just being able to at something once a day that is not vile and without being shot at for it, will make you weep tears of joy and thankfulness. When it is just beans and rice, you will be greatly blessed with the grace of God and starving if you are not