Christians Serve for Jesus, Mormons too except in Ebola Land

[_Bazooka]

Do you believe a priesthood blessing has the power to cure Ebola?

Yes, potentially. Do I think it would in most cases? No.

Could you explain a bit further because you appear to have answered...Yes and No and Maybe.

[_Bazooka]

Bumping

[_EAllusion]

And if the Church had left the missionaries where they were, you would be criticizing that.

Probably. Putting tremendous social pressure on youth to put themselves at risk for proselytizing for a false religion seems straightforwardly wrong. This isn't a commandment from God and people's eternal fates are't at stake here. It's just needlessly risky to send them in.

But I think you are missing what the criticism here is. It's implicitly pointing out that no one believes, including the LDS Church, that God will protect the LDS missionaries or give them divine healing power. It might also be attempting to argue that missionary work was as important as the Church portrays it, then the risk would be worth it. It might not to outsiders, but that goes to internal consistency of beliefs. Think of it this way. If Mormonism is true, that should inspire a certain amount of zealotry in its followers. If you don't think it is true, then you can criticize the misplaced zealotry. But if Mormons don't have it, you can criticize inconsistency between belief and action.

I'd just add that I've seen plenty of Mormons talk a big game about God's blessings and the healing power of the priesthood only when such things cannot be distinguished from random chance or the placebo effect. As the old saying goes, God does not regenerate limbs. Funny how that works.

[_Philo Sofee]

Seem real Christians are serving Jesus in Ebola infected African Nations

http://online.wsj.com/articles/ebola-si ... 1409700251, http://online.wsj.com/articles/another- ... 1409680024, & more

But Not the Mormons

Ebola outbreak prompts evacuation of LDS missionaries from two African nations

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8656 ... tml?pg=all

The LDS Church is transferring all of its 274 missionaries out of Sierra Leone and Liberia, where the deadliest-known Ebola outbreak in history has killed hundreds of people, including two Mormons.

The church announced the decision Friday, the same day the World Health Organization's director general said the disease was moving faster than efforts to curb it, which could lead to catastrophic consequences that include a “high risk” it will spread to other countries.

“We are aware of two members who have died from the Ebola virus,” church spokeswoman Jessica Moody said, apparently one in Sierra Leone and one in Liberia.

All Mormon missionaries serving in the two West African nations are being moved as a precautionary measure. They are being reassigned to a variety of other missions: “Missionaries who have been called to serve in these countries and an additional three missionaries in the Ghana MTC will be reassigned,” Moody said.

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Good thing the Bible said noting about Ebola.

Yes, it is BEST to take away the Melchizedek Priesthood of healing out of lands wherein the devil's diseases are stronger than God's power. Par for the course.

[_Philo Sofee]

Do you believe a priesthood blessing has the power to cure Ebola?

Not any more than I think it could flatten the earth or move mountains. If the Melchizedek Priesthood was in all its glory in Salt Lake City, Utah, when all 15 of the highest, mostest importantest and impressive body of God's power in the universe, other than God himself, mind you, were there all together, you'd think, knowing they had that kind of wonderful ability to save thousands of lives and millions from suffering they would empty out the hospitals everyday. There would be no wheelchairs among us in Salt Lake City at the very least. But.... apparently God loves to see us suffer, contra the New Testament invention of Jesus pretending he actually cured folk.

[_Philo Sofee]

What a perfect opportunity for the brethren to arrive en masse, as a complete quorum and body of Melchizedek Priesthood, God power wielding group to eradicate Ebola out of Africa, were they to only go there and heal the people. God's work would never shine so brightly, so effectively, and so powerfully if the Quorum of the 12 would do group therapy. That way if one or two of their faiths faltered, the other 10 could bring it back up to the proper wattage in order to heal the people form this terrible disease. Instead, we find them all huddled in Salt Lake City, Utah, among themselves, sending faith promoting pap and pablum to the world........

[_Markk]

Seem real Christians are serving Jesus in Ebola infected African Nations

http://online.wsj.com/articles/ebola-si ... 1409700251, http://online.wsj.com/articles/another- ... 1409680024, & more

But Not the Mormons

Ebola outbreak prompts evacuation of LDS missionaries from two African nations

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8656 ... tml?pg=all

The LDS Church is transferring all of its 274 missionaries out of Sierra Leone and Liberia, where the deadliest-known Ebola outbreak in history has killed hundreds of people, including two Mormons.

The church announced the decision Friday, the same day the World Health Organization's director general said the disease was moving faster than efforts to curb it, which could lead to catastrophic consequences that include a “high risk” it will spread to other countries.

“We are aware of two members who have died from the Ebola virus,” church spokeswoman Jessica Moody said, apparently one in Sierra Leone and one in Liberia.

All Mormon missionaries serving in the two West African nations are being moved as a precautionary measure. They are being reassigned to a variety of other missions: “Missionaries who have been called to serve in these countries and an additional three missionaries in the Ghana MTC will be reassigned,” Moody said.

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Good thing the Bible said noting about Ebola.

One thing I have learned from being involved in missionary work in the Christian church, as compared to my perception of LDS missions as a ex-Mormon...is Christian missionaries serve first the needs of the people, create bonds...etc. Teaching and preaching the gospel is paramount, and a goal, but there is a different focus and urgency...i.e. medical needs, feeding, and clothing the folks goes hand in hand with teaching the gospel.

[_Bazooka]

What a perfect opportunity for the brethren to arrive en masse, as a complete quorum and body of Melchizedek Priesthood, God power wielding group to eradicate Ebola out of Africa, were they to only go there and heal the people. God's work would never shine so brightly, so effectively, and so powerfully if the Quorum of the 12 would do group therapy. That way if one or two of their faiths faltered, the other 10 could bring it back up to the proper wattage in order to heal the people form this terrible disease. Instead, we find them all huddled in Salt Lake City, Utah, among themselves, sending faith promoting pap and pablum to the world........

That the Apostles won't go to Africa to use their Priesthood power to cure Ebola should be a bit of a flag....