tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post2645422734227958202..comments2024-01-07T12:38:39.465-06:00Comments on Clean Cut: On Being Seasick While Staying In The BoatClean Cuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08383123314458721660noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-28339625662096991232015-05-20T21:32:29.128-05:002015-05-20T21:32:29.128-05:00I have a FB friend who posts every day about his i...I have a FB friend who posts every day about his interpretations of gospel matters, either scriptural or based on GA talks. Often his posts will show up right next to posts from far less "correlated" Mormons. The juxtaposition is very interesting. <br /><br />Today, it occurred to me that almost everything he says is about believing in the church: not believing what it says, but believing in its veracity. And I thought, this is really a church obsessed with proving itself. The purpose of the religion is pushed aside as we perseverate about its accuracy, supremacy, and infallibility.<br /><br />That's why some talks, like Elder Uchtdorf's, are such a breath of fresh air. They are about the actual beliefs, not how we should feel about the beliefs. It's like the difference between reading the review of a novel and reading the novel itself. I am happy to learn about its author and context initially, but I am hardly going to spend my time reading reviews again and again. Let's get on with the story!Lauranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-69536222912337718372015-01-02T21:11:51.532-06:002015-01-02T21:11:51.532-06:00Hi Spencer! Patrina Garza here. I really enjoyed E...Hi Spencer! Patrina Garza here. I really enjoyed Elder Christofferson's talk from this past October conference about the power of our agency, both to the men we sustain as prophets, and to those of us who are average "everyday" members. I have always had a difficult time with the focus put on 'the brethren' instead of Christ. <br /><br />While I revere and respect the brethren (and sister leaders), and the offices to which they have been called (and humbly chose to accept, neither being elected nor campaigning as a candidate), I feel very strongly about focusing on Christ. This is not Moses's church or the Church of Thomas S. Monson or the Church of any of the other Leaders (read servant-leaders), it is Christ's church. Personally I have had to defend myself to a close nonmember friend who tried to convict me of worshiping Joseph Smith. Personally I was pretty upset by that presumption. <br /><br />Just as much as I was upset by this friend's accusation, I could see how my former Islamic coworkers would be upset if I accused them of worshiping Mohammed, or if I accused my Catholic family members of worshiping 'Holy Father' Pope Francis, or any other religious group for worshiping or idolizing their leaders/servants/founders of their particular group. <br /><br />It is such a fine line we walk as peculiar members of the LDS Church. I always emphasize to friends and coworkers of mine who do not share my faith that my faith is in Christ, not in any imperfect man or woman called to lead the LDS Church or any church (or group of people). A scripture I have found recently that sums up my feelings well (ironically it is quoting an Old Testament time prophet Zenos) Alma 33: 8-11: <br /><br />8 Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them.<br /><br /> 9 Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations.<br /><br /> 10 Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been cast out and have been despised by mine enemies; yea, thou didst hear my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit them in thine anger with speedy destruction.<br /><br /> 11 And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son. <br /><br />The phrase "because of thy Son" just sums up perfectly. Everything about this life is because of the Son.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06214205323437220531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-63545139186587512842015-01-02T16:25:39.912-06:002015-01-02T16:25:39.912-06:00We pay homage to the theory of personal revelation...We pay homage to the theory of personal revelation, but in practicality we turn over our trust to the arm of the flesh. The doctrine of prophets has replaced the doctrine of Christ. Read 2 Nephi 31, 3 Nephi 11, or 3 Nephi 27. Where in "the only and true doctrine" of the Father and the Son do you hear about trusting in prophets? Not once. It is all about the Holy Ghost leading us to Christ. <br /><br />Here is the doctrine most members of the church believe: http://www.totheremnant.com/2015/01/the-correlated-book-of-mormon.html<br /><br />“President Joseph Smith read the 14th chapter of Ezekiel – said the Lord had declared by the Prophet [Ezekiel], that the people should each stand for himself, and depend on no man or men in that state of corruption of the Jewish Church – that righteous persons could only deliver their own souls – applied it to the present state of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall– that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves...”<br />(TPJS, pg. 237-238)<br /><br />I believe in the divinely-sanctioned role of prophets and I love the brethren, but I see that we are simply repeating the mistakes of the past by failing to believe that we can connect with heaven on our own. <br /><br />NOBODY comes between you and the Lord. That is the beauty of the story of a 14-year-old boy who asked of the Lord in faith and entered into His presence to receive truth for himself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-22023874201125479212014-12-28T19:43:44.560-06:002014-12-28T19:43:44.560-06:00Outstanding post, Clean Cut. Captures a feeling co...Outstanding post, Clean Cut. Captures a feeling common among many of us and would go a long way towards helping the captains and fellow passengers understand this. Isn't it interesting how some of these platitudes (like stay in the boat) stick, and then, instead of becoming shorthand for a nuanced idea, they become a convenient substitute for coming to understand something much more complex. It can feel quite patronizing to hear bumper sticker "solutions" from ward members or occasional leaders who aren't the least interested in understanding the problems. I'm sure I'm also guilty of this. Your post will help!Lon Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03301117914593172474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-72273329658947875912014-12-17T21:51:00.162-06:002014-12-17T21:51:00.162-06:00I think members of the church would be shocked, my...I think members of the church would be shocked, my household included (on which I've been overruled on this decision), when I suggest that hanging photos of prophets about their homes is a form of idolatry. Hang a photo of yourself or your family next to the temple and realize they are the same things. <br /><br />They are also shocked when I reveal to them prophets and apostles receive revelation just like us. <br /><br />You pointed out Elder Uchdorf's admittance of infallibility. It's basically the age old the gospel is perfect, but the church is run by men...sort of thing. Members use this as an apologetic excuse all of the time. They just don't or won't include prophets and apostles amongst those men. It really is amazing.<br /><br />Nice post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07777646028884046854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-82702747006743721202014-12-16T22:24:26.960-06:002014-12-16T22:24:26.960-06:00I should add that I think a better analogy is one ...I should add that I think a better analogy is one in which we all are in our own kayak. Experienced guides might initially point out the way but eventually we all need to do our own paddlingClean Cuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08383123314458721660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-21030301157250711282014-12-16T13:20:41.360-06:002014-12-16T13:20:41.360-06:00Thanks, Mike. That means a lot coming from you.Thanks, Mike. That means a lot coming from you.Clean Cuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08383123314458721660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3920640965536781054.post-79334413266657670752014-12-16T09:54:01.551-06:002014-12-16T09:54:01.551-06:00Lovely post. Thanks.Lovely post. Thanks.Mike Cnoreply@blogger.com