The Muslims of Salt Lake County. Should we be more aware of them?

{Note:  I included the URLs in case any reader wants more information.  The content of this post can be understood without reading the extra articles or webpages.}

Yesterday (25 August 2024) in Taylorsville, Utah, some Muslims marched down a street, some banners or flags were seen but the camera did not show what the script said on the waving fabric.  Although it was a mixed crowd, a lot of them were women (in the video).  Some or all of the Muslim women were wearing their long dark attire with the head cover.  It seemed out of place for Taylorsville, Utah.  A passerby in a vehicle tried to ask them what was up, and the Muslims, it is claimed by the videographer, refused to answer, except one kid who said, marching "for Islam."

Today, come to find out, there is a Muslim center in Taylorsville as of (according to the article) since 2008.  It's a building that was built over 100 years ago.  It was a place of worship for the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in that area.  Eventually they outgrew the building, and after 1978 it was sold to an Assembly of God congregation.  Later, around 2008, it was sold to Islamists.  It is called, the Alrasool Islamic Center of Utah, located at 1247 West 4800 South, Taylorsville, Utah 84123.

Here's a link to the article about the building itself:  https://www.ksl.com/article/50755923/were-very-excited-historic-utah-meetinghouse-turned-mosque-wins-major-restoration-grant    The building, is now a historic place.  It was damaged in the March 18, 2020 Utah 5.7 Earthquake, and they have received a pending Endowment fund from National Fund for Sacred Places (which is partly funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc, to help with repairs, after they raise some funds themselves.  They want 3-5 million dollars.  Wowsa!

Alrasool Islamic Center - Photo Kristin Murphy-Deseret News

Alrasool Islamic Center - Photo Kristin Murphy-Deseret News

Taylorsville Journal has followed up on this place.  https://www.taylorsvillecityjournal.com/2024/05/06/490795/historic-center-launches-5-million-fundraising-campaign  

Here's a link to the Center itself:  https://aicutah.org/  

It is a Shia (Shi'a) / Shiite Muslim center.  

These are the major Branches of Islam:  Sunni, Shi'a, Ibadi, Ahmadiyya, and Sufism.  The majority are Sunni or Shi'ia.  https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-major-branches-of-islam.html

There is also an Islamic Center in West Jordan, Utah.  Prior to that, the congregation had been meeting in rental space behind a strip mall in Sandy, Utah, according to https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2019/10/02/utahs-largest-mosque-is/    The location of the "Utah Islamic Center" is at 984 West 9000 South, West Jordan, Utah 84088.

https://utislamiccenter.org  

Utah Islamic Center - West Jordan

Here are other Islamic facilities in the county:

Khadeeja Islamic Center, 1019 West Parkway Avenue, West Valley City, UT 84119  (Sunni denomination), which is part of The Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake.   http://www.utahmuslims.com/  

Khadeeja Islamic Center - West Valley City

An affiliated location with that society, is Al-Noor Masjid, at 740 South 700 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84102.   http://www.utahmuslims.com/

Al-Huda Islamic Center, 470 E. Stanley Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84115   https://www.facebook.com/alhudaislamiccenterofsaltlakecity/ 

Al-Zahra Islamic Center/ Non Profit, 3832 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT   https://www.alzahrautah.org/   (Shi'ia)    

Utah Muslim Civic League, 46 W Broadway Ste 143, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 https://www.utahmcl.com       

Muslim Community Center at 1888 Fort Union Blvd, Midvale, UT 84121    https://www.mcccutah.org      

Madina Masjid, 1773 N Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84116 https://madinamasjidutah.org     

Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah, 425 North 700 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116 

https://www.facebook.com/people/Islamic-Society-of-Bosniaks-in-Utah/100069660873209/      

Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah

The Muslim Students Association at the University of Utah

https://www.facebook.com/msauniversityofutah/      

Islamic Relief USA, https://irusa.org/  

Iqra Academy of Utah (Preschool or K-12), 3990 South 2700 West (Constitution Blvd.), West Valley City, UT 84119 https://www.iqrautah.com

2020 Information says that there are 14 Muslim congregations.  It also says that there's a little over 25,000 Muslims in Utah.  https://d36oiwf74r1rap.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DivDataBook-Religion-May2024.pdf  

25,000 plus population (Muslim) in Utah, is agreed upon for 2024 by the World Population Review.  

Here's the Muslim breakdown:  (Utah has the 23rd highest Muslim population)

New York

724,475

California

504,056

Illinois

473,792

New Jersey

321,652

Texas

313,209

Michigan

241,828

Maryland

188,914

Virginia

169,371

Pennsylvania

149,561

Massachusetts

131,749

North Carolina

130,661

Florida

127,172

Georgia

123,652

Ohio

120,077

Minnesota

114,590

Arizona

109,765

Wisconsin

68,699

Missouri

53,443

Connecticut

43,905

Indiana

41,400

Tennessee

39,745

Washington

27,391

Utah

25,403

Louisiana

24,732

Alabama

23,550

Iowa

23,211

Kentucky

17,957

Maine

16,894

Oklahoma

15,290

New Mexico

12,046

Colorado

10,828

Nevada

7,400

Delaware

7,065

Arkansas

6,765

South Carolina

6,677

Vermont

6,201

Nebraska

4,934

Kansas

3,615

Mississippi

3,106

Rhode Island

2,599

Idaho

2,531

New Hampshire

1,172

West Virginia

849

North Dakota

540

South Dakota

535

Alaska

400

Wyoming

226

Montana

200

Hawaii

145

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/muslim-population-by-country

According to World Population Review, for comparison, the 2024 estimated number of Muslims {in the US population 327,827,000} is: 3,450,000, which is 1.05% of the American population.   The U.K. (United Kingdom of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland), has 66 plus million people, and 3.8 million Muslims, which equals 5.86% of their population, and the UK is having an utterly terrible time (on the brink of civil war) because of their economic and immigration problems.  Let that be a lesson, that a population cannot absorb an unlimited number of immigrants, migrants, or invaders (whichever you prefer to call them) especially when the citizenry is obligated to foot the bills.  This is difficult considering that the languages, social customs, and attitude outlooks are quite different from the Host country.  The politicians can't seem to "figure that one out" ahead of time.

People may want to unfairly call this post against community standards or Islamophobic.  I will say though, that's not fair.  After all, there is no other religion on the planet that collectively has the highest noticeable number of people, that wish death or destruction upon others, and do it.  There is something fundamentally wrong with that kind of warped thinking.   They need to reevaluate what "Allah" really is, as they also call him "merciful."

My big question for these people is, If they claim to be a religion of peace, Why do they not speak out against much more often, against their "brethren" for their barbaric murderous crimes against humanity?  Often, they remain silent.   Because they remain silent, it is only natural that we (the "rest" of us) will wonder what truly is the intent of their hearts, and the thoughts of their minds.  Example, the people in the Taylorsville march, did not want to explain themselves as to why they were en masse walking in public.  Why the secrecy?  It only makes people have doubts and fears about their intents.

It is no small feat for a people to let others of a drastically different background, into their country and provide assistance to them.   No person (well, almost no one) no matter their background, wishes to wake up one morning into chaos, death and destruction for themselves and certainly not for their children and grandchildren.

They seriously need to read the Book of Mormon what it says about causing death, destruction, and chronic war!  It's not good, and woe unto those who cause it!!

Here's another blog with the beginnings of the Book of Mormon in Arabic, plus the LDS Church's booklet on similarities between the Church and Islam.

https://arabicbookofmormonlds.blogspot.com/   

https://arabicbookofmormonlds.blogspot.com/2023/11/booklet-muslims-and-latter-day-saints.html

Missionary work is important.  Love, example, and The Word!

Alma 31:5

5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.

POST NOTE:

Europe or Other Western Countries (or their allies) with Muslim populations (immigration changes):   Economics and social or language differences may exacerbate problems, as well as violence from the incoming people.  This is include immigration from other groups of people also.

2024  World Population Review website:

France        10% of population

Austria        8%

Belgium      7.6%

Sweden        6.87%

UK               5.86%

Germany      5.54%

Denmark       5.4%

Switzerland   5.18%

Canada          4.89%

Italy               4.8%

Slovenia        3.56%

Norway         3.29%  

Australia       3.16%

Greece          2.91% 

Spain            2.53%

Netherlands  2.22%

Finland         1.84%

Ireland          1.4%

USA              1.05%

Belarus          1.05%

Romania        1.02%

Ukraine          0.97%

New Zealand  0.84%

Portugal          0.63%

Hungary          0.61%

Slovakia          0.2%

Czech.             0.19%

Estonia            0.12%

Lithuania         0.11%

Latvia              0.10%

Poland             0.02%  (Poland said, "No" to further immigration)

Iceland    near  0%

Greenland  n'r  0%

FYI:  Russia 10.9% (Muslim areas were part of communist USSR)

Interesting:  With the exception of Suriname and Guyana in South America, the Muslims have almost zero interest in Mexico, Central America, the Carribean, and South America.  They make up less than 1% of those populations, or near zero.

     

Just for October. No Halloween.

1.  Do You Think that God likes Halloween?

No, and for sure it has one foot in the Telestial world and one foot in Hell. It won't be celebrated in the Millennium. Why?

2.  Halloween looks a little more vicious this year where I live.

The fake Nephilim (giant skeletons) have arrived this year, along with an increase in more chains, knives, and fake severed body parts. Ugh. What's weird, is that there are actual Pagans and Satanists out there. The Evil One takes away light and truth thru traditions and celebrations D&C 93: 38-40

As for the current war (October 2023 - ?) in Israel, put yourself in their place. Would you like to be in a zone where there is real guns, missiles, bombs, knives, other weapons, death, severed body parts, hospitals filled up, people crying, screaming, and moaning, funerals and tombs...evil demons and ghosts, hell? Don't you see it? Halloween is a dress-rehearsal for death and hell, and the devil. Trick or treating in the dark of the night with such spooky decorations. Please, Wake up Latter Day Saints and believers in God. Even if your children are dressed up cute and you are sweet at the door? You are in the midst of the rest of Halloween. What will you say to your God on Judgment Day? It is best to keep your door shut like the Exodus Israelites and mark your door as Holy.

3. Forbidden things in the scriptures:

Sorcery (spells, drugs) - witchcraft, seances, spooks (unclean spirits), horror-fear, torture/murder, death, kidnapping, unclean sexual acts, idolatry, false priesthood, and false gods. Too bad that some believers in Christ simulate some of these things one night, or one month per year. No spook alley (or Halloween party) should ever be in a church, or other place of worship.

4. If you still are unconvinced, thinking, What a fun-sucker!

...then, read several websites about the history of Halloween celebrations: Not so virtuous or neighborly. Pray about it! Just think, quit Halloween and you'll spend less money on dentists and your kids won't be having sugar fits.

The Media, movie/TV, stores, and public schools are guilty for pushing Halloween on people. Children are taught from a young age to like witches, spooks, and such, even if they are in a butterfly costume. They are rewarded (groomed) with candy just like in the story, Hansel and Gretel who couldn't resist the witch's house of candies and cakes. Disney. Nickelodeon.

5. Find another date

Disassociate yourself from Oct. 31st, its merchandise, and any Halloweenish festivities leading up to it. Find a different date to have tasteful costumes, delicious food, and meeting friends. Other people have already made the change. Don't run parallel with darker minded people on Oct. 31st. Halloween won't go away until people stop celebrating it.

6. You will be blessed for choosing light over darkness

Jesus said, Wide (popular) is the way to destruction (everyone's doing it).

Quit Halloween, and you will be blessed because your works will not be in the dark. Departing from Babylon also means spiritually, not just physically.

7. Learn about the Biblical Holidays

These will be celebrated in the Millennium.

8. Alternate post about Halloween:

Gathering Zion's People: Halloween and Entertainment (gatheringzionspeople.blogspot.com)

Thanks for reading about these teachings. Blessed are you if you receive them into your heart.

Who will be saved in the Last Day?

Who will be saved in the Last Day, the Judgment Day before Christ rules over the earth?  Good question.  

Although I don't claim to get every single criteria in my answer, I will mention some of them.  I also cannot address the issue of a person's individual pre-earth life soul contract with God, in regards to mission in life and potential lifespan.  We have a veil over our premortal memories.  However, if you are seeking Divine protection in the Last Days, there are some things to remember and do.  The basic criteria for being saved, is living a righteous life, receiving the Truth, and heeding the promptings of the Holy Spirit (D&C 45:57) (taking the Holy Spirit as your Guide).

If you were an angel of God, and were looking down on humanity, who would you save?  How would you judge a person's value for the New Heavenly Kingdom on earth?  Would you judge a soul only by its heart, its spirit? How would a person be weighed in the scales?

Let's visit a story from the scriptures, in Daniel 5.   Belshazzar was a wicked king.  He loved riches (and probably was underhanded in getting them), he was not humble, he loved to party, and he greatly dishonored God.  One day, an angel wrote on the wall in his palace (only disclosing his hand to human view) a message in an unknown language.  None of his "wise" men could interpret the writing, but Daniel the Prophet could.  It was not a message that a person would want to hear.  Part of the message was, "Thou art weighed in the balances and found wanting."  The other part was that his kingdom was over and would be given over to other nations.  That was the last of Belshazzar's life.  He was slain that same night.  So, not only did he have a bad heart, but he did bad things too, particularly extra bad because his actions were destructive towards others, not just to himself.

So, it sounds like the Belshazzar passed up on opportunities to do good, and also ignored repentance until it was too late.  See Alma 35:33-35 about the perils of waiting too long to repent.
Alma 34 (churchofjesuschrist.org)

Fortunately, we in the gospel have reminders to repent, through the Sacrament ordinance, and we are supposed to examine ourselves and re-commit to live the gospel.  This regular process helps keep us from getting too far off the path.
2 Corinthians 13 (churchofjesuschrist.org)

Moroni 4 & 5 (or D&C 20:75-79) have the Sacramental prayers, if you wish to read them.

Okay, another instance where the angels were judging people at a time of judgment, is found in Ezekiel 9.  This was when Ezekiel had a vision of the wicked people of the city, and he conversed with the Lord in the vision.  There was a servant of the Lord in the vision (an angel) who marked the foreheads of the righteous.  The Lord told the servant, "..., Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sign and cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof."   So you see, the righteous were marked so that they would not be hewn down in destruction.

There are other instances in the scriptures about being marked as righteous:  the Passover story in the book of Exodus comes to mind.  Before the last "plague" the faithful were instructed to mark their doorposts with an unblemished Lamb's blood.  There were other Passover instructions too.   This was so that the Destroying Angel would pass them by.

In the book of Revelation, chapter 7 (New Testament) the four angels of the Apocalypse were told by God, to mark the 144,000 who will have special tasks, "..., Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."  [See also D&C 77:9]

So, in the Passover, it was a physical marking on the doorposts, identifying their homes that they had entered into a covenant with the Lord, and that they had His promise of protection by doing what He said.

In Ezekiel 9 and Revelation 7, it was undoubtedly, a spiritual marking, imperceptible to the natural eye, but seen by God and his angels. 

Zion will be a great protection to its inhabitants.  Read D&C 97.

Here's an excerpt:

21 Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is ^aZion—the pure in heart; therefore, let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked shall mourn.  

22 For behold, and lo, vengeance cometh speedily upon the ungodly as the whirlwind; and who shall escape it?  

23 The Lord’s scourge shall pass over by night and by day, and the report thereof shall vex all people; yea, it shall not be stayed until the Lord come;  

24 For the indignation of the Lord is kindled against their abominations and all their wicked works.  

25 Nevertheless, Zion shall escape if she observe to do all things whatsoever I have commanded her.  

26 But if she observe not to do whatsoever I have commanded her, I will visit her according to all her works, with sore affliction, with pestilence, with plague, with sword, with vengeance, with devouring fire.

The Mark of the Beast, will be a physical sign but with devastating physical and spiritual effects, because they will experience the Wrath of God.  The Mark is in contrast with being sealed by God's angels, or by putting a Godly sign on one's house.   I am personally against Halloween, and it's interesting to note the correlation that in this ghoulish holiday, tricks or treats are dispensed at the doorposts of one's home.

Revelation 13

15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Revelation 16

2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a ^anoisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

9 And men were scorched with great heat, and ^ablasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of ^adarkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their ^apains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

So you see, in theory it would be hoped that those who take the Mark of the Beast, repent, but the record says that they don't repent.  This implies that the prophet John (writer of Revelation) hoped they would repent, but they won't or don't.

Be a Wise Virgin (Matthew 25).

There is a lot here to ponder about from these scriptures.   

Late Fall and Winter Biblical Inspired Holidays - Hanukah and Purim

Hanukah (also spelled Chanukah) -popular but not an original/commanded festival. Late Fall or winter.

9th Biblical month. Chanukah/ Hanukah, The Festival of Lights or Feast of Dedication.

This is not one of the original Biblical festivals. Chanukah celebrates the people returning to God culture and overcoming their oppressors, the Greeks. The temple was cleaned and the miracle menorah oil lasted 8 days until more oil could be made. Lit oil = Holy Spirit or presence of God. It is also seen as the Jewish version, the replacement for Christmas in terms of decorations and gift-giving.

It is an 8 branched Menorah (special candlestick holder). The regular temple menorah is a 7 branched Menorah, and its imagery is part of the New Testament, in Revelation 1-3. The Servant candle is the Savior in the midst/middle of the Menorah who lights all the rest. It's such beautiful imagery with the angels giving messages to each of the 7 churches.

Chanukah was mentioned in the New Testament, in John 10: 22

22 ¶ And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.

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Purim, or the Fast of Esther. It's another popular but non-Pilgrimage holiday. Winter.

12th Biblical month. This is the story of Esther from the Old Testament and how the people's lives were saved. Jews like to wear Biblical costumes, and have noisemakers to drown out the enemy's name (Haman) when the Book of Esther is read. Treats are popular too. Esther was a courageous young woman who became queen to a gentile King. He was deceived by his evil advisor, Haman (who hated the Jews and was looking to get more power).