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Lying is a sin. It is one of the 10 commandments. So is murder. Yet everyone’s favorite Book of Mormon hero was ordered to murder Laban because the alternative was worse. This says to me that God doesn’t have a zero tolerance policy and looks at things on a case by case basis with an open mind. Maybe I am trying to justify my own actions. I have lied many times when I thought telling the truth would cause more problems than it would solve. I think we all have brains so we can figure these things out. cwald wrote:Okay, good enough Ray.
I’m just wondering here, but if jwald, who DOES have the priesthood (at least according to everyone on this site I think) was to anoint and lay hands on someone and give them a blessing — would she get disciplined by the church today?
I don’t get what’s really different about laying on of hands vs joining in prayer.
What about the other 99.95% of the people on this earth that don’t pay tithing to the LDS church. Do they get to keep their houses? If someone stops paying their tithing and gets a big bonus the next week, is that proof that god rewards those who stop paying tithing? If I pay my tithing and then get laid off, is god punishing me for paying tithing? If not, then why should I believe that someone who receives blessings after paying tithing is being rewarded or that someone who elects not to will be punished? It just seems so random. I have a hard time seeing God up there at his computer entering the keystrokes for massive earthquake and tsunami. However, there is a possibility that this earth was created in a way that random acts such as these were set in motion. Perhaps that was done specifically by God to give us challenges and bring mankind together (nothing does that like a tragedy). Perhaps it is just what happens when you build a giant ball of rock, water an gasses and hold it together with incredible magnetic forces. Either seems plausible to me, But again, I don’t see this as a direct and immediate action of God to punish or teach anyone. I don’t see how you could get the full experience here on earth if you only lived one life. How can a man truly every know what being a woman is like? How can a rich white guy ever know what a poor minority feels like. How can a poor person understand the challenges of greed and corruption that come with power and money? If we are to become like Christ we need to experience it all. Perhaps our spirits are capable of living in multiple bodies at once. Maybe there really aren’t that many of us after all. Too far out there?
What I always see as striking irony is how much your average Mormon (definitely including myself) is like the Pharisees that Jesus was always slamming in the Bible. We step past the truly needy in order to make outwardly apparent gestures at church. What if every Mormon began giving 1% to the church and 9% to the needy? Wouldn’t that be closer to literally giving money to God? I cringe when I think how much money the church spent on opulent temples in the past 10 years when we could have just as easily built utilitarian temples and given literally hundreds of millions to worthy causes. I know the church has some programs for the needy, but I know the charity fund isn’t nearly as well funded as the temple fund. We just built 2 extra temples in the Salt Lake valley. Add in Bountiful and the two in Utah county and we have 7 temples within a 50 mile radius. I have a hard time thinking about the hungry people in the world while driving past 3 of these on the way to work every day. I know Christianity (and Mormonism in particular) has never preached it, but have always wondered if we aren’t given multiple turns on this planet. I think I am one of the Lord’s servants. I have been given the Priesthood and asked to carry out church assignments. So whatever I say in church is on parity with statements from God? Sounds like it from that scripture. Of course I am kidding, but it seems to me that some of this scriptures – especiialy out of context – can be interpreted to many individual purposes. “Servant” is certainly a word open for interpretation. One could say the prophet is only acting as the lord’s servant when he says what the lord would have said. Of course how would any of us know when that is or isn’t happening.
I don’t know how old your kids are, but my oldest is 16. I try my hardest to make sure she follows what I think is the right path. But the truth is that even at 16, all I can do is guide her. She’s old enough that she will be making her own choices and developing her own opinions not matter what I tell her at home. It is good to reinforce certain ideas and behavior, but at some point, the bird leaves the nest and you hope they learn to fly before hitting the turf. It is a very powerless feeling, but that’s part of the process. oh and give your wife a break. It aint easy taking care of kids every day. bedti:)mes can be rough at my house, so I can see not feeling in the mood to kneel down after yelling at the kids for the 15th time to turn off the TV. (maybe that’s just my house?
I think I am coming across more upset than i really am. i appreciate all the words of advice and support. The Book of Mormon itself never claims to be the “word of God”, does it? Does the Bible? It seems to me that they both only claim to be records of ancient religious experiences, much like a collection of journals. I’m trying to stand back and look at this more openly, but I just can’t figure out to reconcile it. We have Joseph Smith claiming that this book was given to him by an angel, and modern prophets saying it is the most true and correct book on the planet and that god’s laws are eternal and unchanging. How many things can you not believe about the LDS church and still have something left that makes it a useful religion to you? Aren’t there at least SOME things that need to be concrete? I enjoyed this, thanks. Ironically I do not wear a wedding ring and have not been able to stand wearing mine for more than a week at a time. My 10th wedding anniversary is tomorrow and my wife doesn’t seem to mind, so I don’t think it is going to kill my marriage anytime soon. To be honest, I thought this was going to end up as an analogy to wearing temple garments, which I also don’t enjoy wearing.
