Brazen Vaccines
Nov. 14, 2021
For nearly two years we’ve been inundated with media stories and information relating to viruses, masks, social distancing, and a shot they call a vaccine. The mainstream media has obviously taken their own spin on the issue, but something that’s become more apparent is that many in the religious community are making a surprising connection. (See references toward the end for quotes and citations.)
There are people telling us that just as Moses held up a brazen serpent to heal the Israelites from the poisonous serpents, we too have been given a very easy solution to heal from this pandemic, we have been given a vaccine. And there are many today who are not taking advantage of it due to the easiness of the way. Even one of the LDS apostles stated that religion (specifically their leaders) can be influential in coercing their members into taking a vaccine. At a G20 Interfaith Summit, Elder Bednar specifically said, “Many will be fearful of vaccines. Religious leaders can be helpful in the fight against the coronavirus.”
So how accurate is it for anyone, regardless of their religious affiliation, to make the association of the brazen serpent and the vaccine? Let’s first take a look at the story in the Old Testament book of Numbers, chapter 21:
6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
So here we have a punishment (poisonous serpents) sent by the Lord which was killing the Israelites in droves. They acknowledged that it was due to their wickedness and sinful behavior. The Lord commands Moses to fashion a serpent of brass on a staff. Simply looking at the staff would heal them. Easy, right? Look at a snake and live. But what most of them failed to recognize was the symbolic nature of this event. Here are three sets of scriptures that help us discern this parable.
John 3
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Alma 33
19 Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.
20 But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.
21 O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?
22 If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.
Helaman 8
14 Yea, did he [Moses] not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come.
15 And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal.
We are clearly taught in these scriptures that the parable of the brazen serpent was purely a symbolic reference to Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice, one of the most sacred aspects of Christianity.
And what about this vaccine? In the United States, there have been nearly 850,000 severe reactions from the jab and close to 18,000 deaths associated with the shot as reported by VAERS. In Europe, the number of deaths is over 25,000. I wouldn’t be surprised if many of you are unaware of these figures. The mainstream media is doing a fantastic job at censoring stories of the injured and dying. I plan on doing a very thorough essay on the effects of the vaccine in the future, stay tuned.
In making this comparison we should also ask ourselves the question, “What sins have we committed for being dealt such a harsh judgment from the Lord?” The narrative about the virus is just as questionable as the shot itself. It first came from a wet market, then a lab, then we learn of Dr. Fauci’s funding of Gain of Function research that enhances viruses, to which he lied about under oath. And we are now learning that the US government co-owns the Moderna vaccine, which they are attempting to mandate and share in the profits. Does anyone see this as a conflict of interest?
So how do I feel about comparing the jab to the brazen serpent? I strongly disagree with the comparative analogy. In fact, I feel it to be a desecration of our fundamental belief in Christ. By stating that this vaccine has been “raised up” (in a lab I might add), we are making a direct comparison to Jesus Christ. By stating that this vaccine was sent as a savior to heal us (as the serpent analogy was originally intended) is making a mockery of that which is sacred, even Jesus Christ and His power to heal and to save. When was the last time God told us to look to a shady government agency (arm of flesh) for salvation from spiritual or physical death?
Shalom
Click on the sections below to read quotes making the serpent/vaccine analogy.
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“I woke up this morning feeling with a deep desire to publicly declare my testimony that the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led by a true prophet who communes with God and who will never lead us astray! I also know that the Apostles and other members of the First Presidency are also prophets, seers and revelators who are called of God and who will lead us back to Him if we follow their counsel. My heart has been so saddened as I have seen so many members of The Church doubting and publicly disagreeing with these good and righteous leaders, thinking that they themselves know better. Wearing masks at church and in the temple as President Nelson has asked us to do, is our way of looking at Moses’ staff to be healed. It really doesn’t matter if masks work or not! That is not the point! This is an obedience test! And the same goes for vaccinations! The Prophet has encouraged us all to be vaccinated unless we have a medical reason to refrain from doing so, and if we do get the vaccine, we will be blessed! It’s that simple! I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s true Church on this earth! I know it! And I feel so blessed to have the Gospel in my life as it brings my life so much peace and joy. Please don’t let your distrust of vaccinations and hatred for masks be the mists of darkness that shake your hold upon the iron rod and prevent you from partaking of the sweet fruits of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ! I know that following the Prophet in all things, will bring healing, peace and safety to us all!” (Comment from her Facebook page)
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According to Harris, another elderly member in her ward is not interested in getting the vaccine either. “I tried convincing her by saying the Prophet set the example for the rest of us. My friend still won’t get it.”
“I feel like we are in Moses’s day, wandering in the desert,” Harris said. “When the vipers were biting the people, all they needed to do was look at the brazen serpent on a pole and they would live.”
Harris said wearing a mask, social distancing and getting the vaccine is similar to looking at the brazen serpent.
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“Of the patients she sees in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center emergency room, Dr. Candace Mcnaughton estimates that currently half are there with COVID-19. She says that observing the situation surrounding the pandemic has given her a new appreciation for what it might have felt like for the Israelites, “Who were dying because of the fiery flying serpents. All they had to do was turn and look at the scepter held aloft – but many of them didn't," she wrote in an email to me following our interview.
"How much like them are we now?" – she continued. "How often are we turning away, rationalizing our risks in the same way that they must have? We have been asked to stay home, not to ‘share air’ with others outside of the people who live with us. It is counterintuitive and counter to our human nature and desires to touch and see other people. It feels similar to other sacrifices the Lord has asked through the ages – difficult, counterintuitive, perhaps even wrong in some way, but absolutely necessary and the only way forward."
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When Russell Nelson, the president of the LDS church, told the world that this shot was a “literal godsend”, I encouraged my friends and family not to take it. Nelson even said, “Receiving the vaccine today was part of our personal efforts to be good global citizens in helping to eliminate COVID-19 from the world.”
As you might guess, many people were not thrilled with my post. In the comments I had one friend and one family member make the comparison of the government experiment (aka vaccine) and the brazen serpent. This is an egregious comparison.
Disclaimer: Only a small portion of my thoughts and feelings are contained within this essay. It is nearly impossible to condense a lifetime of study, thoughts, and impressions, into a few paragraphs. I value and encourage the need for altering perspective as new light and knowledge is acquired. One of the best ways to know a person’s heart is to sit down and talk face-to-face, perhaps while consuming a mild barley drink.
If you’d like to explore this topic further please see the linked resources below.
Disclaimer #2: I may agree with all, some, or maybe just a few words of the content listed below. I may also strongly disagree with elements that are shared. Take the Spirit as your guide as you study all things.
Jenny Oaks Baker, facebook post
The Exponent: Moroni, Moses, and President Nelson: Vital Correlations with the Coronavirus Vaccine
BYU Courage Board, Pfizer executive, serpent analogy
By Common Consent—Look. At. The. Damn. Snake
By Common Consent—Look at a snake and live (or maybe just wear a mask)
LDS Living interview with Dr. Candace Mcnaughton
The Panolian, Moses and the fiery serpent
Hampton United Methodists, Look Up and Live
Rabbi360, For yourself and all of us, please get vaccinated
Spiritus Christi, Look at the serpent
Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Twitter post on masks and the serpent
The Atlantic: The Crime of Refusing Vaccination
Elder David Bednar, G20 Interfaith Summit, vaccine hesitation
Jewish Virtual Library, Nejushtan (a copper serpent comparison)
BYU-idaho talk on the brazen serpent (no jab comparison btw)