ZION - A Declaration of Independence

ZION - A Declaration of Independence

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people, seeking Zion, to dissolve the ecclesiastical bands which have connected them with institutions that have departed from the original Holy Order, and to assume among the powers of heaven and earth the separate and equal station to which the Laws of God and the Light of Christ entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to this restoration and separation.  

 

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all mankind are created in the image of God with the divine capacity and potential to ascend and return to Him — even to become joint-heirs with Christ, having fulfilled the full measure of their creation. That to secure this knowledge of His ways, to teach the things which He requires, and to guard the sacred covenants that enable this ascent, churches and covenant communities are instituted among men, and prophets are raised up by God as His servants and messengers. These prophets, together with the holy scriptures and the Light of Christ given to every soul, derive their just influence from teaching truth and persuading to faith, repentance, and obedience — that all who willingly bind themselves to God may lay hold upon every good thing.  

 

That whenever any Church, institution, or form of religious government becomes destructive of these ends — to the securing of knowledge of God’s ways, the teaching of His requirements, the guarding of sacred covenants, and the enabling of souls to realize their divine potential and ascend — it is the Right and Duty of the People, under God, to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new forms or to return to the original order, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their eternal safety and exaltation.  

 

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that forms long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute spiritual despotism and to substitute the traditions of men for the pure doctrines and covenants of God, it is their right, it is their duty to God and to their own souls, to throw off such corruption and to provide new guards for their eternal security.  

 

The history of certain churches, and particularly the institutions that claim to be the restored Church of Jesus Christ in these latter days, is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of unrighteous dominion and the substitution of the philosophies and traditions of men for the pure Holy Order of God. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.  

 

- They have altered and diminished the sacred covenants and ordinances once delivered in purity, changing the form and substance of temple rites and garments that were given to bind the heavens and the earth.  

 

- They have centralized power in the hands of a professional bureaucracy and correlation committees, robbing local branches, stakes, and families of the autonomy and common consent that marked the original order from the days of Adam.  

 

- They have elevated the words and policies of men above the Light of Christ given to every soul, teaching members to trust in the arm of flesh and to follow living prophets even when they speak contrary to scripture or personal revelation.  

 

- They have accumulated vast wealth through tithes and offerings while maintaining secrecy around their holdings, laying heavy financial burdens upon the poor and the widow while building corporate empires rather than Zion communities.  

 

- They have suppressed independent thought, personal revelation, and the free exercise of spiritual gifts, punishing with discipline and ostracism those who question unrighteous dominion or call for a return to the original pattern.  

 

- They have replaced the simple, family-centered order of the early Saints and the patriarchal order of the fathers with programs, handbooks, and institutional loyalty that bind the minds and hearts of the members to men rather than to God.  

 

- They have gradually departed from the principle that the Church exists to enable the ascent of souls, instead teaching that loyalty to the institution is the highest virtue and that salvation is mediated primarily through compliance with current policies.  

 

- They have ignored or downplayed the warnings in the Book of Mormon concerning churches in the latter days that “rob the poor,” “wear fine apparel,” and lead many to trust in the precepts of men.  

 

 - They have sought to control the narrative and historical record, softening or concealing uncomfortable truths about past teachings, failed prophecies, and the plainness of the original restoration.  

 

 - They have fostered a culture of conformity and fear rather than the liberty and agency that God has given to every soul, making the Holy Order of heaven appear burdensome instead of joyful.  

 

In every stage of these Oppressions, we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms. Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Church, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define Spiritual Despotism, is unfit to be the guardian of souls seeking to fulfill their divine potential.  

 

We, therefore, the People of God in these latter days, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the eternal covenants we have made with Heaven, solemnly publish and declare, That these Churches, in their current institutional form, have departed from the Holy Order established from Adam until now; that we are Absolved from all Allegiance to their unrighteous claims of absolute authority; and that all connection between us and such corrupted systems, as they now stand, is and ought to be totally dissolved.  

 

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor — not in rebellion against God, but in zealous pursuit of the restoration of His Holy Order, the building of Zion, and the ascent of our souls.

Signed

John The-Not-So-Beloved

The Piano and the Score: A Metaphor for Lifelong Growth

I sit at the piano for an hour or two each day with a simple commitment: be as obedient to the score before me as I possibly can. I never intentionally make mistakes, yet they come—plenty of them. When my skill and ability fall short, I stop, return to the difficult passage, and work on it until the notes begin to flow as written. Over time, what once halted me becomes effortless. I breeze past those former trouble spots, often without even remembering how impossible they once felt. Then I close the book and open a new, more demanding piece. The cycle begins again.

For me, this daily rhythm at the keys has become a profound metaphor for life itself—a microcosm of disciplined becoming.

The score exists independently of my playing. It does not bend to accommodate my limitations, moods, or improvisations. True mastery begins with submission to what is written. In life, it's the unchanging realities around us: natural laws, moral principles, scriptural covenants, and the teachings of Christ. We can add personal expression, rubato, or creative flourishes, but the foundation of growth is honoring the score as given.

Mistakes in this context are rarely moral failings; they are diagnostic. They reveal precisely where our current capacity falls short. The ‘gulf’ between who we are and who we are trying to become. The disciplined response is not to push through with excuses or compensations, but to stop, isolate the problem, slow down, and repeat with focused attention. This is the pattern of repentance and refinement—humble, targeted, and persistent. Many in life keep playing wrong notes loudly and call it “authenticity” or “interpretation.” The wise pianist (and the wise soul) chooses the harder, honest work.

Mastery of something naturally provides a beautiful gift. One of the sweetest mercies of practice is how mastery erases the memory of struggle. What felt insurmountable becomes natural, even joyful. We stand on past difficulties as a foundation and reach higher. It's the “mighty change of heart” described in scripture—old temptations or weaknesses grow distant not because they were trivial, but because we have been transformed.

Yet the process never ends in mortality. Each new score—whether in marriage and family life, parenting through changing seasons, deeper theological understanding, vocational challenges, or trials of faith—brings fresh passages that expose new weaknesses. The temptation is to rest on past mastery or avoid harder repertoire. The mature musician, like the mature disciple, keeps choosing the next piece.

This metaphor illuminates several vital truths:

There's a natural tension that hangs between Agency and Grace. We must choose to sit at the bench daily. The piano will not play itself. Yet transformation is not pure self-effort. Repetition, muscle memory, subconscious integration, and even rest do their quiet work. As Paul taught, we “work out [our] own salvation… for it is God who works in [us].” Philippians 1:8 RE. Discipline creates the conditions for grace.

There is Power in deliberate practice.  Time at the keys matters, but 'focused' time on the hard parts matters more. Life rewards resisting the comfort of familiar repertoire. Tackling that awkward chord progression or rapid run parallels confronting a character flaw, a strained relationship, or a doctrinal knot. Slow, mindful repetition beats mindless volume.

Keeping an eternal perspective reminds us of Who wrote and is writing the score. Our cycling through scores suggests a Master Teacher who curates the repertoire for our growth. Each piece builds technical, emotional, and interpretive capacity. What feels like endless repetition is actually ascent—pre-mortal preparation, mortal refinement, and post-mortal continuation. The moments when we breeze through former difficulties offer foretastes of perfected ability.

"Do as I have done. Love as I have loved. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart...” Once we master a piece, we can teach it, accompany others, or join in ensemble playing. Personal sanctification equips us to strengthen our families, communities, and broader circles of influence.

A gentle caution -- you aren't Jesus yet -  perfectionism can paralyze. Even master pianists miss notes in performance. The goal is musicality and flow, not robotic flawlessness. Life’s score allows room for interpretation, expression, and creative improvisation—especially once we have internalized the Composer’s intent.

Your daily practice—whether at the piano or in the larger arena of life—is a form of worship and prayer: showing up, submitting, failing honestly, and rising again. The music grows richer with time. The struggles that once stopped you become the very passages that make the whole worth it.

Keep playing.  The next score awaits, and so does the joy of mastery yet to come.

Signed

John The-Not-So-Beloved

---