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Yesterday was a pisser in Gospel Doctrine class.

The teacher announced somewhere in the middle of class that all that should ever be taugh is faith, repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost; that anything else constitutes "mysteries"; that we should not seek to know "mysteries," and that if we should find out any "mysteries" we should never talk about them to others but keep them to ourselves.

The teacher called on a past bishop who stood up, echoed what she had said, said that "mysteries" such as knowing how God transports things from one to location to another are not important for our salvation, and sat down.

I don't know why this upset me so much. It's not like I haven't heard it before. Is it because this is the exact same class I taught for four years and this was like a slap in the face?

Or is it simply (and I think this more likely) that it became crystal clear that the highest virtue is no longer obedience faith or charity or even obedience, but willful ignorance.

The first law of Mormonism is now, "Don't ask, don't tell."

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

consiglieri wrote:
The first law of Mormonism is now, "Don't ask, don't tell."

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

Seek and ye shall find; ask and it shall be given unto you. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

So don't seek, and don't ask!

D&C 84
22 For without this no aman can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.

23 Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;

24 But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.

25 Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also;

consiglieri wrote:it became crystal clear that the highest virtue is no longer obedience faith or charity or even obedience, but willful ignorance.

That's because willful ignorance is the only virtue that the LDS can preach that, if followed, will prevent apostasy.

consiglieri wrote:The teacher announced somewhere in the middle of class that all that should ever be taught is faith, repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost; that anything else constitutes "mysteries"; that we should not seek to know "mysteries," and that if we should find out any "mysteries" we should never talk about them to others but keep them to ourselves.

How very bizarre. Everywhere the word "mysteries" appears in the scriptures it's a good thing, like a blessing or a reward for honest and sincere seekers, and something we should all be striving to discover. I've never heard the term used with such a negative connotation before.

Sure, we're supposed to avoid speculating about "deep doctrine," but that was always a counterfeit to the true "mysteries" which should be sought after, kind of like how emotional manipulation was a poor substitute for the genuine Spirit.

I have to somewhat echo your thoughts consig, ignorance is now enshrined as a virtue.

For whatever reason I went to Sunday School with my wife yesterday. I try and bolt after sacrament meetings, but she seemed for me to want to stay.

Anyway, they were discussing "The Sermon on the Mount" in 3 Nephi. There was some Area Authority Seventy in the audience, and he offered his opinion at several points. I was flabbergasted at his comments. Shallow, eisegetical, and at one point I think demonstrably wrong. But that's just what Sunday School is nowadays, rehashing the current talking points. No one really cares what the text actually says, just continue on with the general ignorant confidence that Mormons are right because they are the one true church.

I was probably in a foul mood because I think 3 Nephi 12-14 is one of the big smoking guns against the historicity of the Book of Mormon, but had to sit through people thinking it was a great upgrade to the text in Matthew.

Aristotle Smith wrote:I have to somewhat echo your thoughts consig, ignorance is now enshrined as a virtue.

For whatever reason I went to Sunday School with my wife yesterday. I try and bolt after sacrament meetings, but she seemed for me to want to stay.

Anyway, they were discussing "The Sermon on the Mount" in 3 Nephi. There was some Area Authority Seventy in the audience, and he offered his opinion at several points. I was flabbergasted at his comments. Shallow, eisegetical, and at one point I think demonstrably wrong. But that's just what Sunday School is nowadays, rehashing the current talking points. No one really cares what the text actually says, just continue on with the general ignorant confidence that Mormons are right because they are the one true church.

I was probably in a foul mood because I think 3 Nephi 12-14 is one of the big smoking guns against the historicity of the Book of Mormon, but had to sit through people thinking it was a great upgrade to the text in Matthew.

Sunday School yesterday contained the "do your alms in secret" verse(s).
After a period of general discussion the following question "But what about 'Helping Hands, isn't that doing alms in public rather than secret?"

Answer "That's different because it's a group thing..."

What?

Aristotle Smith wrote:I have to somewhat echo your thoughts consig, ignorance is now enshrined as a virtue.

Yep. Willful ignorance explains a few of the apologists around here.

For whatever reason I went to Sunday School with my wife yesterday. I try and bolt after sacrament meetings, but she seemed for me to want to stay.

What are ya--some kind of masochist?

Anyway, they were discussing "The Sermon on the Mount" in 3 Nephi. There was some Area Authority Seventy in the audience, and he offered his opinion at several points. I was flabbergasted at his comments. Shallow, eisegetical, and at one point I think demonstrably wrong. But that's just what Sunday School is nowadays, rehashing the current talking points. No one really cares what the text actually says, just continue on with the general ignorant confidence that Mormons are right because they are the one true church.

The manuals are all about reinforcement of basics so that people don't start thinking about things more critically.

I was probably in a foul mood because I think 3 Nephi 12-14 is one of the big smoking guns against the historicity of the Book of Mormon, but had to sit through people thinking it was a great upgrade to the text in Matthew.

Next time, remember what Nancy Reagan said: Just say no.

From the back of the class a tentative hand is raised

"isn't having the proper authority to administer baptism and the Holy Ghost important?"

then the follow up after the inevitable yes response.

"Wouldn't an investigation into how that proper authority was restored and maintained on this earth then be an important study?"

When I hear "stick to the basics" what is implied is that beyond that is that there are problems without good answers.

Fence Sitter wrote:From the back of the class a tentative hand is raised

"isn't having the proper authority to administer baptism and the Holy Ghost important?"

then the follow up after the inevitable yes response.

"Wouldn't an investigation into how that proper authority was restored and maintained on this earth then be an important study?"

When I hear "stick to the basics" what is implied is that beyond that is that there are problems without good answers.

Precisely. Consiglieri tells us:

The teacher announced somewhere in the middle of class that all that should ever be taught is faith, repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost; that anything else constitutes "mysteries"; that we should not seek to know "mysteries," and that if we should find out any "mysteries" we should never talk about them to others but keep them to ourselves.

But there is a whole crowd of churches that make a big thing of "faith, repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost". There is nothing there that differentiates Mormons from other churches at all. The point is surely why the CoJCoLDS has to be seen as the one and only organization on earth through which the christian deity wants those things to be mediated.