Twenty years ago I served in the YM's program in my ward with a couple of great guys who are now the Bishop and 1st Counselor of the ward. About once a year they drop by my place to say "hi" and catch up. The last time they stopped by I told them I would donate $200/month if one Saturday a month they would open the ward up and have a pancake breakfast for the poor, needy, hungry, homeless, and less fortunate folks in our area. They jokingly asked if I would be willing to flip pancakes. I told them I would in a heartbeat. I also told them that they wouldn't do it because the Stake Prez would shut them down in a second. My buddy who is the Bishop looked at the floor and then said, "Sometimes members of the church don't act very Christ-like." They are good guys. Unfortunately I don't think they have it in themselves to defy the authorities and just neglect to read the letter.
When the letter is read, things could get a little dicey in the ward though as THIS family are active members - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/0 ... 64834.html ** My daughter was the "date" of the gay son at the last "Mormal" **
Red flags look normal when you're wearing rose colored glasses.
I have a question wrote:No. It's an unwitting way of showing that Monson isn't running the show anymore.
Is Oaks the de facto play caller now?
He seems to be. Sure Eyring and Uchtdorf are wheeled out for ceremonial purposes and 'Royal' occasions. But the big decision making and strategic agenda setting seem to be coming directly from Oaks. When it comes to needing someone to front a ballsy decision like where the Church stands on SSM, the FP is noticably absent and Oaks is front and centre. I will go as far as to say the FP dances to the tune set by the Q12 and the Q12 is being led by the influence of Oaks.
“When we are confronted with evidence that challenges our deeply held beliefs we are more likely to reframe the evidence than we are to alter our beliefs. We simply invent new reasons, new justifications, new explanations. Sometimes we ignore the evidence altogether.” (Mathew Syed 'Black Box Thinking')
I have a question wrote: I will go as far as to say the FP dances to the tune set by the Q12 and the Q12 is being led by the influence of Oaks.
Maybe the LA Times wasn't wrong when they said this in L. Tom Perry's obituary last May:
Mormon leader L. Tom Perry, a member of the faith's highest governing body, died Saturday at his home in Salt Lake City, church spokesman Eric Hawkins said in a statement.