Today we talk about the far reaching repercussions beyond the sole issue of the priesthood ban. I attempt to show our Church is growing up and while this announcement provides problematic issues to work on such as defining Doctrine and how we as members dissent it also shows great maturation of the Church and may indeed usher in a whole new paradigm in which we view what the Church is and how we define it.
http://www.lds.org/topics/race-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-doctrine-of-christ?lang=eng
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/no-other-gods?lang=eng
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us?lang=eng
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/trial-of-your-faith?lang=eng
https://mormonstories.org/other/Lowry_Nelson_1st_Presidency_Exchange.pdf
http://en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_racial_issues/Blacks_and_the_priesthood/Statements
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Than you so much, Bill, for this articulate, respectful treatment of this issue. I’m a convert of many years who has served in the whole spectrum of callings and sent out several missionaries–I love the church. I also feel it’s time for the church to make this transition–the leaders aren’t always right, and it actually takes stronger, more spiritually mature saints to actually take responsibility for our own spiritual confirmations, and to respectfully speak up when the spirit directs. The fundamentalist “Church and its leaders are perfect model” not only falls apart in the light of documented history (ie: Lowry), but it does the members no favors; it keeps them children to the perfect parent Church. I welcome adulthood.
This topic is at the heart of much of my doubt currently. I think near the end you really hit it on the head but I differ from you where you say that time can vindicate you, as that day is yet to come for anyone as the brethren have never admitted any wrongdoing.
You said that “all this stuff going on has shown that the brethren have acknowledged…” There has been no apologies (with the exception maybe of the Mountain Meadows Massacre) that the church has been wrong on any matter (that I am aware of) for past racism or that it might be wrong on any current issues, and people like Lowry Nelson or Byron Marchant in 1977, have not been vindicated. This is yet to happen. I see this as hypocrisy and pride in the brethren and I long for the day that this could happen. Correct me if I am wrong, but presenting your opinions (even in a group of 15) as the unimpeachable word of God is immoral in my eyes. They might get there someday, but this topic has my testimony in tatters.
I hear you… hang in there…. it gets better if you ever want to talk send me an email and your #.
We should always be ready to change our way of thinking to be in harmony with which Christ would instruct us… and allow ourselves to be led by the power of the Holy Ghost.
2 Nephi 32:6 Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.
good point and a scripture I refer to a lot
Bill, I do not understand your logic here. You say in the same breath that the Holy Ghost will tell you if the brethren are wrong and that it’s inappropriate to openly challenge them with this knowledge from the spirit. This is contradictory and is illogical and I dare say abusive of God. For one, why isn’t God talking to the brethren? Why is God enlightening Louis Lowry but failing to do so for his spokesmen on earth? God wants us to shut up and sit and wait for the Lord’s anointed to finally figure out what we already know? What good are they to us then? If all members felt like you – certain opposition to the brethren is wrong, even if they are wrong – then these men would have no reason at all to listen to people who are smarter and more informed. There would still be a ban on black people and shoulder shrugs of “meh. We don’t know why. We’re just doing it.”
Thank you for posting this… this ‘policy’ has bothered me since I was five years old (old enough to learn about it). I have always wondered how we can believe in the second article of faith (men are punished for their own sins and not for Adam’s transgressions) and then say an entire race is punished for being descendants of someone. The fence sitter idea is also just as ignorant in my opinion. I feel it wasn’t from a loving Heavenly Father as well as many of the ‘policies’ of that time period.
Can you share what music you play on your sessions before and after the podcasts?
“life unfolds” Derick Clegg
“Come Thou Fount” Chris Rice
Can you share what music you play on your sessions before and after the podcasts? It is really beautiful.