The new way of justification in the LDS Faith really irks me. When something comes up as no longer being taught as doctrine from a former prophet they say, "he was just speaking as a man."
The LDS Faith teaches that a prophet is called of God, by God, to speak for God to the masses. How are the followers now supposed to know when a prophet is speaking as man or as God?
The most recent doctrine that was tossed aside this way was how Brigham Young taught about black people. They were lesser than other races. They would make it to the Celestial Kingdom (the highest level of heaven according to the LDS), but only as servants. They were not allowed to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, but allowed the Aaronic Priesthood up until 1978.
A few months ago the leaders of the faith finally offered an apology and said Brigham was speaking as man.
Which brings me to question how are the followers supposed to know if Thomas S. Monson is speaking as man? Was Gordon B. Hinckley ever speaking as man? What about David O. McKay, Spencer W. Kimball, or George Albert Smith?
When a prophet speaks to God the followers take everything they say as doctrine. There is very little question. Sometimes you get those like Kate Kelly, John Dehlin, and Rock Waterman, but usually those that would become like them are quashed before they reach that level. They are scared into believing their family will no longer see them after this life, that they will not reach heaven and be with God or Jesus. That if they continue down this path it is damnation. So they conform and move on.
I am in full support of these people. They are bringing heartfelt questions before the leaders of the faith and want a better church. It is always good to question. The church claims to teach it is ok to question, but in all reality if you don't change your questions to match their answers you are an apostate. You are ridiculed. You are then turned into what is most as feared by the believing, an anti-Mormon.
What then happens in the next 100 years or so when Thomas S. Monson is labeled as speaking as man? How does that help the lives that are ruined in the present? The families torn apart today? The hearts broken yesterday?
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Thursday, June 12, 2014
It's ok to doubt, just not in public.
This week has been interesting, to say the least. It has looked for awhile that the LDS leaders were starting to come around and be a little more accepting. That is, until yesterday when the news hit...
For those of you unaware, the founder of Ordain Women and the creator of the podcast Mormon Stories have been threatened with excommunication and have been called to appear in a church disciplinary trial. This is huge in the faith.
From what they have shared the leaders of the faith have called them apostates and to repent of their sins.
Now mind you, these "sins" have just been questions about the faith. Which, in my understanding, is how the whole LDS faith came to be. Fourteen year old Joe, went into the forest near his home to ask God which church is true.
The founder of Ordain Women has asked the leaders of the faith to ask God if women can have the priesthood. That is all. Yet, they refuse to even ask. What are they afraid of? Will God say yes? Will God not answer? Will they be proven frauds? Or will they come back and say, "God said no," and be labeled sexist.
And honestly, why can't women have the priesthood? Women gave blessings in early church history. The bible talks of priestesses working in the temple, so why not now? The faith promotes an unchanging view of doctrine as given by God, but I see nothing but changes.
Black people were refused the priesthood. Polygamy was once common practice. Hell, they now have Tithing because the Law of Consecration proved to not work. In order for a church to live on, change is inevitable.
Now we move on to the creator of Mormon Stories. He is open about his doubts, but still says the church is true and that it is ok to doubt. He has a ton of followers, Mormon and Non-Mormon alike. He has called the leaders to be more accepting of the LGBT community. This is where he comes in to play.
Again this is about change. Why are the leaders so afraid of change? Will they lose power? Will they lose members? Will they lose money?
The way they "kick against the pricks" is what is hurting them. You listen to a lot of the people out there and there are a lot that have stated the leaders have hurt them. They have left no room for any questions. And in that one move you have undermined the core beginnings of your faith. Because one boy asked God who is right.
For those of you unaware, the founder of Ordain Women and the creator of the podcast Mormon Stories have been threatened with excommunication and have been called to appear in a church disciplinary trial. This is huge in the faith.
From what they have shared the leaders of the faith have called them apostates and to repent of their sins.
Now mind you, these "sins" have just been questions about the faith. Which, in my understanding, is how the whole LDS faith came to be. Fourteen year old Joe, went into the forest near his home to ask God which church is true.
The founder of Ordain Women has asked the leaders of the faith to ask God if women can have the priesthood. That is all. Yet, they refuse to even ask. What are they afraid of? Will God say yes? Will God not answer? Will they be proven frauds? Or will they come back and say, "God said no," and be labeled sexist.
And honestly, why can't women have the priesthood? Women gave blessings in early church history. The bible talks of priestesses working in the temple, so why not now? The faith promotes an unchanging view of doctrine as given by God, but I see nothing but changes.
Black people were refused the priesthood. Polygamy was once common practice. Hell, they now have Tithing because the Law of Consecration proved to not work. In order for a church to live on, change is inevitable.
Now we move on to the creator of Mormon Stories. He is open about his doubts, but still says the church is true and that it is ok to doubt. He has a ton of followers, Mormon and Non-Mormon alike. He has called the leaders to be more accepting of the LGBT community. This is where he comes in to play.
Again this is about change. Why are the leaders so afraid of change? Will they lose power? Will they lose members? Will they lose money?
The way they "kick against the pricks" is what is hurting them. You listen to a lot of the people out there and there are a lot that have stated the leaders have hurt them. They have left no room for any questions. And in that one move you have undermined the core beginnings of your faith. Because one boy asked God who is right.
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