Inconceivable wrote:truth dancer wrote:I wonder...
Wouldn't one think that being a part of God's church would move them toward goodness?
Something seriously seems to be missing.
:-(
~dancer~
What is missing is humility. From the top down, there is so very little humility in the church as to be nonexistent.
Inconceivable wrote: You would think it should.
For years, my emphasis in my teaching was a focus upon "becoming a child of Christ", "becoming born again", "no more having a desire to do evil but do good continually", developing charity. And literally taking upon us the name a Jesus Christ.
Mercy and forgiveness have such miraculous effect upon the truly penetant. There is a change of heart. The burden is lifted, a feeling of peace, I've felt it. I wanted to become like whatever it was that gave me this - it became the standard I compared myself to. I wanted to tell others about this. It made me happy.
Though I consider myself an angry man now, it turned me more peaceful, kind, loving, forgiving, respectful, honest, honorable - charitable. This was a common bond with the one called Jesus and people around me noted that I countenanced it.
I think the old wizard that wrote the Book of Mormon had a decent understanding of what it meant to have a change of heart. I'll give some very profound examples if anyone is interested.
For the life of me, I could not understand why most Mormons (and I mean most) had no solid grasp upon the above concepts. Not even a clue. It's probably because they think in their hearts that repentance is for the adulterers, murderers or just pretty much the non chosen"/non-members.. in others words, not them.
How sad this is. And how true. Sit through any fast meeting and listen to the testimonies. They are nearly unbearable. But how to change this, when the leadership... the ones who are truly supposed to be humble... are so arrogant and self-righteous, they don't know how to bend their knee and seek the humility that is requisite for their callings? Christ was clear about what is required to return to God: love your neighbor, not yourself. Seek not the treasures of earth (can anyone say granite monuments to current leaders?), but rather seek the treasures of heaven... faith, hope, charity, humility, kindness, longsuffering, and most of all, love. Be kind to others (instead of making fun of the unfortunate, as we've seen here lately). Pray for those who despise you (instead of seeking to humiliate them). Love your enemies (instead of loving only who look like you, talk like you, think like you). And love God. Loving God is the hardest part, because to love God is to love his creations... all of them. Even the unbelievers.