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Back to the issue at hand, recognizing that there is more to the issue than just DNA, I’m wondering if there will be an essay on Archaeology and the Book of Mormon. I’d like to hear how they will choose to represent those issues, in the light of the other recent entries.
One thing to consider is that Gender is not an absolute. It is a spectrum, and you may fall anywhere along the male or female side. On the low estimates, 1 in 2000 are born right in the middle. No one is absolutely male or absolutely female. Same then, with sexual attraction and orientation.
It should not be surprising, as we humans are so varied and diverse in every way imaginable. It is a strength, not a weakness.
Well I haven’t seen any LDS farmers treating their cattle with tobacco leaves, or teaching their steers to smoke, but, whatever WOW. I would suggest that when a problem arises that cannot be solved by policy change, that new scripture will arise to support the change or solution. However, I do not expect it to be spiritual teachings, but something more along the lines of Doctrine and Covenants, which really outlines organizational needs and methods. I think there is a difficulty in crafting new spiritual writings, as every scripture we have in our contemporary experience are the writings or ideas of peoples and cultures long dead. I don’t think anyone has a clue how to write modern scripture because we aren’t doing any of the fantastic or inspiring things that are prevalent in existing scripture. We aren’t crossing waters parted by God, or travelling to a promised land on submarines, or destroying our enemies, or even healing and performing miracles. We don’t convert entire cities. I don’t think we are even giving inspiring sermons for the most part.
Joseph Smith made an attempt with the further adventures of Abraham, but the result does not stand up as inspiring scripture. Instead it serves the purpose of exposition, to justify the overall narrative.
I think there needed to be some credibility to the claims. The backstory was needed to set the early church apart from everything else. I think much of the more unique claims arose out of a need to be different. However I feel at some point it became less about Christ and more about itself. It’s like how Josiah “found” the books of the law. Some suggest this “restoration” was so the scriptures could be adjusted/created to present a certain point of view and consolidate power to a specific group. Then they could say, look at our history, surely it is the will of God, and we are the chosen people.
I think the better solution would be to get rid of all the special meetings and just improve the content of the remaining 8 hours of conference. Certainly that must be ample time. SilentDawning wrote:That is just my opinion, because I had feelings of overconfidence after I reflected on Elder U’s talk I realized this is a mere stepping stone. I also believe that when I attend church next time, that I will still see a lot of same attitudes that existed before the talk. And the same reactions to people like myself who share unorthodox thoughts, or emphasize the imperfectness of our organization.
It will take the same sort of statement from the mouth of two or three witnesses before it even begins to sink in with the rank and file. Cafeteria Mormonism abounds.
Quote:In the long run, I think those who are able to Stay LDS are going to have to learn to be “glass half-full” people when it comes to these things (recognizing the good developments, and forgiving the flaws seventy-times seven). I am trying. It might take a while, though.
The glass is always full. Half full of water, half full of air.
Nature abhors a vacuum.
Well my only hypothetical question is this: How does [edited: the leadership] justify proclaiming the one true church and one true gospel to the world, using partial truths, misleading claims, and cloudy history to do so? How about everyone brings their own bread and water and save a lot of the fuss? At least we could avoid having three month old stale bread from the freezer.
Never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well known is this: don’t go in against a Sicilian when the fall of man is on the line! My bishop at the time was kind enough to instruct me that I didn’t need to tie them around my toe when having a bath or being intimate. Nowadays, If they want me to wear them during sports, then they need to make performance garments. It’s all relative, and probably an indicator for obedience, like most other things. If you feel fine, then that is all that matters.
