-All of which is driven by the man/woman’s faith, repentance and holy works.
Angels
-All of which is driven by the man/woman’s faith, repentance and holy works.
Blog, Books, Papers & Lectures
Month: March 2010
There was an article in the Church News about a symposium at BYU dealing with the “Organization and Administration of the LDS Church.” The article can be found here: http://www.ldschurchnews.com/
From the two thousand year example of the Roman Catholic Church, I fear presumptions like these. There is a profound difference between actual revelation and an “expectation of divine revelation … built into the very administrative structure and offices of the Church.” He uses comments from Joseph Smith to support the assertion, while ignoring the revelation in Section 121 cautioning that while many may be called, few are chosen. He ignores the revelation that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority as they suppose they begin to immediately exercise unrighteous dominion. Without confirming revelation given to every member of the Church, as a constant check on abuse, the destiny of Mormonism will be a repeat of the history of Catholicism. A Holy American Empire will replace the Holy Roman Empire, both of which have or will resort to blood and horror as the means to reign over mankind. The bedrock of the Gospel is the testimony of Jesus. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Rev. 19:10.) That is the charisma the scriptures tell us to trust.
There is absolutely no historical precedent we can point to which confirms that charisma can be safely institutionalized. There are an abundance of examples, however, of men abusing religion to gain control over others to satisfy their pride, to exercise control and dominion over others, and to gratify their vain ambition. The only check against this are the individual testimonies of the few, humble followers of Christ. Nevertheless, we are told that in our day even they are going to be led into error oftentimes by those who teach them the precepts of men. (2 Ne. 28: 14.)
What is most interesting to me is that the warning came to the wife, not the husband. He respected her revelation, and they went together to proclaim the warning. Meridian Magazine, which is a Church-owned website published this article. It delights me when there is recognition of the entirely democratic way in which revelation comes to us. And when we find a married couple without jealousy about such things.
I agree that there may be many reasons for the decline. However, the most prominent of reasons in my view is the de-emphasis on doctrine. As a convert to the Church I know what attracted me to become a Mormon. It had nothing to do with the formulaic discussions of the missionaries, slick marketing or good arguments. It had to do with doctrine. I DIDN’T WANT to be a Mormon. Quite the contrary. But I knew I should become a Mormon because their doctrines came from God and answered questions other faiths could not begin to answer.
The man bellowed at Joseph F.: “Are you a Mormon?”
There was an article on Mormon Times about the declining baptism rate the Church is experiencing. The article can be found at: http://www.mormontimes.com/
I’ve often thought that with the standard set by the Lord in the Sermon on the Mount (“Judge not, that ye be not judged, for with what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged” – Matt. 2: 1-2), that any time a person is given the opportunity, they should forgive others, just as Christ admonished us. (See Matt. 6: 14-15.)
Those who think presiding over a ward or stake gives them an opportunity to dominate others are taking an extraordinary risk against their own eternal interests. My counsel would be to err on the side of forgiving, and never on the side of condemning. Even the woman taken in the act of adultery was told by the Lord: “neither do I condemn thee.” (See John 8: 1-11.)
Christ’s teachings were meant to be applied internally to check our own behavior. Not externally as a means to judge or condemn others. If you see something amiss in other’s conduct, then persuade them by your example to be better. Lectures are almost always useless. An example is compelling.
In relation to the world’s population there are statistically fewer LDS each year. Our birth rate is declining and our baptism rate does not even begin to keep up with world population growth. In other words, each year there is far more temple work to be done than there was the year before.
Yvonne Bent has organized a conference on May 15, 2010 at the Rose Wagner Auditorium in downtown Salt Lake City to have various presenters address conference attendees on the widespread sacred patternism, including chiasmus. She invited me to speak, and I will be among those who will participate in the program.