MishMagnet wrote:Licked cupcake indeed. Very, very seriously the lessons should be aimed at the Lord knowing our sins no more. NO MORE - if that is indeed what the church teaches. This was not my personal understanding of the atonement as an active member and is obviously not the understanding of those I've mentioned here. I don't know that one really ever is absolved of sexual sin in the church. This is not my understanding based on my own experiences. Missionaries that are not able to serve if they've had sex, having to confess one's sins to more than one Bishop along the way and so forth. It's not good enough to talk repentance if you don't show it as well.
I think this is the crux of the matter. For a church that teaches so much about the Atonement, we don't emphasize the part about God forgiving
and forgetting about the sin nearly enough. I had an TR interview with my bishop just last Sunday and when he asked the question about did I have any unresolved sins that needed priesthood authority, I almost laughed. It's not that I have unresolved sins of that caliber (although I'm sure I have many of a lesser caliber). In my estimation, no sin requires priesthood authority, since priesthood authority is a manmade construct. Sin is a matter between the person and God, with no interference needed from any man. Bishops don't give forgiveness, and bishops sure as heck don't forget. God, on the other hand, does both. And that's why I'm certain Christ is not at the head of this church, if he ever was. Men run this church and have since the beginning. And this concept is manifest in their refusal to share their power with women.
These object lessons have their uses. I've used the Ding Dong lesson in many a youth training, to get the youth to understand the ramifications of early sexual activity. However, the lesson isn't presented in any manner that would connotate that "sin" was involved or that "forgiveness" was necessary. It's presented with the idea that unprotected sex can lead to STD's, sterility, and death. When the spirituality of the lesson is gone, so is the sting.