Circa 7 to 5 BCE, two prophets, named Helaman and Samuel, lived and recorded their observations of the social, political, and religious affairs of a nation located somewhere in the present-day Americas. These were their observations:*
So, as we scan the landscape—from Brasília† to Washington‡ and back (and beyond)—here is the question: Are we on course for another “American” déjà vu?▪ contentions did increase, insomuch that there were wars throughout all the land among all the people ...
▪ it was this secret band of robbers who did carry on this work of destruction and wickedness. ...
▪ and there was a great famine upon the land, among all the people ...
▪ For the earth was smitten that it was dry, and did not yield forth grain in the season of grain; and the whole earth was smitten ... that they did perish by thousands ...
▪ [And it came to pass after a brief period of repentance, peace and prosperity], there began to be much strife. ...
▪ And it came to pass ... there were a certain number of the dissenters from the people being stirred up to anger ... therefore they commenced a war with their brethren.
▪ And they did commit murder and plunder; ... hiding themselves that they could not be discovered, receiving daily an addition to their numbers, inasmuch as there were dissenters that went forth unto them.
▪ And thus in time, yea, even in the space of not many years, they became an exceedingly great band of robbers; and they did search out all the secret plans ...;
▪ Now behold, these robbers did make great havoc, yea, even great destruction among the people ...
▪ And it came to pass that it was expedient that there should be a stop put to this work of destruction; therefore they sent an army of strong men into the wilderness and upon the mountains to search out this band of robbers, and to destroy them.
▪ But behold, it came to pass that in that same year they were driven back even into their own lands. ...
▪ And it came to pass ... they did go forth again against this band of robbers, and did destroy many; and they were also visited with much destruction. ...
▪ And the robbers did still increase and wax strong, insomuch that they did defy the whole armies ... and they did cause great fear to come unto the people upon all the face of the land.
▪ Yea, for they did visit many parts of the land, and did do great destruction unto them; yea, did kill many, and did carry away others captive into the wilderness, yea, and more especially their women and their children.
▪ Now this great evil, which came unto the people because of their iniquity, did stir them up again in remembrance of the Lord their God.
▪ And thus ended the eighty and first year of the reign of the judges.
▪ And in the eighty and second year they began again to forget the Lord their God. And in the eighty and third year they began to wax strong in iniquity. And in the eighty and fourth year they did not mend their ways.
▪ And it came to pass in the eighty and fifth year they did wax stronger and stronger in their pride, and in their wickedness; and thus they were ripening again for destruction.
▪ they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity. …
▪ O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world! …
▪ Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom's paths! …
▪ they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide. …
▪ they have set their hearts upon riches; …
▪ if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil. …
▪ But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth—and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet. …
▪ Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him. …
▪ the more part of the people remaining in their pride and wickedness, and the lesser part walking more circumspectly before God. …
▪ And there was but little alteration in the affairs of the people, save it were the people began to be more hardened in iniquity, and do more and more of that which was contrary to the commandments of God, …
▪ the people began to harden their hearts, all save it were the most believing part of them, … and began to depend upon their own strength and upon their own wisdom …
▪ And they began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying: …
▪ That it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come; …
▪ And many more things did the people imagine up in their hearts, which were foolish and vain; and they were much disturbed, for Satan did stir them up to do iniquity continually; yea, he did go about spreading rumors and contentions upon all the face of the land, that he might harden the hearts of the people against that which was good and against that which should come.
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*See Book of Mormon | Helaman, chapters 11-16 for the full text which can be found at https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng.
†Glenn Greenwald on the hypocrisy of Brazil's political crisis (Friday May 13, 2016; Time 10:31 min.) at http://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/episode-285-trump-tabloids-greenwald-on-brazil-hamilton-s-gatekeeper-pr-stunts-gone-wrong-and-more-1.3580796/glenn-greenwald-on-the-hypocrisy-of-brazil-s-political-crisis-1.3580827
‡Review almost any US headline or news report or review: 1) Rose-Colored Specs? at http://dejavu-times.blogspot.ca/2015/03/rose-colored-specs.html ; 2) Faux-Rogue Repeat? at http://dejavu-times.blogspot.ca/2016/01/faux-rogue-repeat.html ; 3) Whitewash? at http://dejavu-times.blogspot.ca/2014/11/whitewash.html ; or 4) most of this whole, sad Déjà Vu~Times series.
