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“The Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple; followers can make it complicated,” said Elder David A. Bednar as he recently spoke to local members and guests of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

As a visiting apostle of the church from Salt Lake City, Bednar observed that “there is a common tie between the doctrine, the authority and the ordinances of this church. That tie is Jesus Christ. How he organized his church in earlier days is the same way it is organized now in the church. Everything we do in the church is connected to Jesus Christ.”

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I don’t recall Jesus Christ organising a secret hedge fund.

IHAQ wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 7:17 am

I don’t recall Jesus Christ organising a secret hedge fund.

It appears that one of his disciples took this sensible precaution. But maybe Bednar would not like the example in question to be recalled?

John 12 (KJV and Greek):

4Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
4Λέγει δὲ Ἰούδας ὁ Ἰσκαριώτης εἷς [ἐκ] τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ ὁ μέλλων αὐτὸν παραδιδόναι

5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
5Διὰ τί τοῦτο τὸ μύρον οὐκ ἐπράθη τριακοσίων δηναρίων καὶ ἐδόθη πτωχοῖς

6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
6εἶπεν δὲ τοῦτο οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ ἀλλ’ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον ἔχων τὰ βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν

The King James version does not get the last three words right. In fact, modern translations take it to mean "he used to pilfer what was put into [the bag]". The verb is the same as that used in John 20:15, where it is used by Mary Magdalene when she asks the man she thinks is the gardener (really Jesus) "if he has carried off" the body missing from the tomb on Easter morning. This usage seems to have become current in New Testament times.

We are not told exactly how Judas invested the funds he accumulated this way. No doubt, if asked, he would have said it was for "a rainy day", or something similar.

IHAQ wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 7:17 am

“The Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple; followers can make it complicated,” said Elder David A. Bednar as he recently spoke to local members and guests of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

As a visiting apostle of the church from Salt Lake City, Bednar observed that “there is a common tie between the doctrine, the authority and the ordinances of this church. That tie is Jesus Christ. How he organized his church in earlier days is the same way it is organized now in the church. Everything we do in the church is connected to Jesus Christ.”

https://www.yakimaherald.com/community/ ... 7ba03.html

I don’t recall Jesus Christ organising a secret hedge fund.

That was the part that was not translated correctly.

Members have always been game for a simple gospel.

It is the leaders who make it complicated.

100% of the time.

Jesus never organized a church.

Of course the gospel of Jesus Christ is simple. Just do everything we tell you to do. See? Simple.

Follow the prophet… follow the prophet…. Follow the prophet don’t go ashtray…

there is a common tie between the doctrine, the authority and the ordinances of this church.

Some might say the common tie is the whim of the current sole member of the corporation sole, currently one Rusty "Donuts" Nelson.

They can’t see that they try to usurp Christ’s authority.

Dr Moore wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 1:14 pm

Members have always been game for a simple gospel.

It is the leaders who make it complicated.

100% of the time.

Yeah, after all, "I believe in Jesus." DONE. PERIOD. FULL STOP. It does not get simpler than that, but Mormonism is convoluted piles, and heaps, and mountains vastly more complicated than that! "Well yes, we too believe in Jesus, but....."