Guardians of an Altar

Reclaiming a lost culture

“Culture is religion externalized” (Attributed to Henry Van Til)

Is it possible to restore our degenerate culture? Who is the true god of our society? How can we recover beauty from the ashes of a collapsing civilization?

This is a call to reclaim our culture for the true King, Jesus Christ. This is a cry to restore His law and rightful authority as we embark as His ambassadors with a world-wide mission.

“[Living] by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God” D&C 84:44

“I [Brigham Young] know that some say the revelations upon these points are not given by way of commandment. Very well, but we are commanded to observe every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 182–83).

“We … take all the laws, rules, ordinances and regulations contained in the Scriptures and practice them as far as possible, and then keep learning and improving until we can live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 3).

Practicing Industry, Enterprise and Provident Living

“It will be increasingly valuable to have vocational skills–to be able to use our hands. The most essential temporal skills and knowledge are to be able to provide food, clothing, and shelter. Increasingly, the Lord, through His servants, is trying to get us closer to the soil by raising our own produce.” (Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988], 653.)

“The aim of the Church is to help the people to help themselves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our Church membership.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1936, p. 3.)

Building a multi-generational heritage

Ancient and modern prophets have taught that the Patriarchal Order is God’s perfect or Celestial form of government and family order. Prophets through all time have taught these principles, revered this structure and rejoiced in the hope that the true Patriarchal Order would one day be fully lived by the Saints.

Understanding the Patriarchal Order lies in comprehending the responsibilities and duties of the father, mother, children and how they should interact. We wish to restore honor and respect for fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers as well as our distant forefathers in obedience to the fifth commandment. We are striving to build a faithful posterity.

“I Stand Firmly in the Forefront for Truth”

“Sto Pro Veritate” was the motto for the Guthrie clan. It has been translated as “I Stand Firmly in the Forefront for Truth”. In our day and age, many men and women are seeking for truth but know not where to find it. We need individuals with courage to stand as a voice. Hundreds have died physically from starvation, war, disease and persecution as you were reading this page. However, the number of spiritual casualties (those who have and are succumbing spiritually to the philosophies of men) is astronomically higher.

If you do not stand, who will?

Instilling nobility, refinement and hospitality

“The Lord does not intend that the Saints shall live always in dens and caves of the earth, but that they shall build fine houses. When the Lord comes he will not expect to meet a dirty people, but a people of refinement.” (Lorenzo Snow, in Wilford Woodruff: History of His Life and Labors, ed. Matthias F. Cowley (1964), 468.)

“Let us … show to the world that we have talent and taste, and prove to the heavens that our minds are set on beauty and true excellence, so that we can become worthy to enjoy the society of angels.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, 424.)

Becoming a truly peculiar people

As covenant young men and women, we have and will continue to turn our hearts to “the promises made to the fathers” (D&C 2:2).

“Israel is an eternal people. She came into being as a chosen and separate congregation before the foundations of the earth were laid; she was a distinct and a peculiar people in preexistence, even as she is in this sphere.” (Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 510-511)

Acquiring a Providential worldview

A Providential worldview allows us to see God’s hand in the rise and fall of governments, the strength of the family unit, the economic prosperity of nations, the worldwide struggle for freedom and even the climate and personal conditions experienced by men and women. This worldview gives inspiration and hope for the future as we understand God’s plan and direction. Identifying, understanding and contrasting worldviews allow us to accurately discern between truth and error and understand the impact God’s law has had on civilization.

Be ready to be changed!

“When you choose to follow Christ, you choose to be changed. . . .

Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world. Men changed for Christ will be captained by Christ. . .

The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.” (President Benson)