Chap wrote:Funny about the Gethsemane man, though. I seem to remember that there are stories about him going round making sick people better straight away, just because they wanted to be made better. Maybe he hadn't perfected the suppository plan at the time.
Yes, all those people who came to him in faith found comfort and healing. Those without mocked him and presumably continued to suffer. At least between now and then...there is symmetry.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
Seven wrote: What I can't believe is that this came from the First Presidency. Don't they have more important things to worry about? Are these the same people who are too busy to read/answer letters from struggling members that have questions or concerns about doctrines?
I'm trying to imagine the meetings and discussion that preceded this First Presidency letter.
I can just imagine President Monson visiting a ward somewhere, and having a guy all excited because he was going to give an awesome talk with just killer visual aids, and this was the talk that was going to make him a GA, or at least get him a book deal with Deseret Book and a regular gig at education week. All the while, President Monson is sitting there thinking "Ah crud, not another annoying visual aid. Just bide your time, Tommy. Your day will come. And you can rid the Church of visual aids in Sacrament Meeting once and for all! Oh, and get rid of the noise of ruffling scripture pages too. Just hang in there."
Or maybe President Monson sat by in frustration as every youth in the Church was freaking out about President Hinckley's counsel regarding pierced ears and tattoos, and he felt like he had to come up with something. So we'll soon hear a talk from the next Sister Bednar where we find out that we can judge the worthiness of a future spouse by whether or not they use visual aids in Sacrament meeting or ask people to open their scriptures. Soon there will be editorials in the Daily Universe urging fellow students to resist the temptation to use visual aids, and engagements will be broken over disagreements regarding whether or not it is still ok to open your scriptures in SM of your own volition, or if all scripture page turning is now verboten.
Cinepro.....LOL! :)
harmony
Now we have one less thing to feel guilty about (always a good thing).
Very true. :) I used to look at the Mormons who eagerly opened their scriptures during the talks as more faithful than me. All this time I was the more obedient one! ;)
Truth Dancer:
(I thought this was a long time policy and recall hearing this message many years ago),
Personally, one of the reasons I used to turn to the scripture was to try and keep myself awake. Not that reading the scriptures were particularly good at keeping one awake, but fiddling around with something in my hands would be helpful. I should have just leaned forward and put my head in my hands, deep in "thought".
(this was before I had little kids, obviously - keeping little kids quiet in meetings is more than enough to keep one awake)
We hate to seem like we don’t trust every nut with a story, but there’s evidence we can point to, and dance while shouting taunting phrases.
Chap wrote:Funny about the Gethsemane man, though. I seem to remember that there are stories about him going round making sick people better straight away, just because they wanted to be made better. Maybe he hadn't perfected the suppository plan at the time.
Yes, all those people who came to him in faith found comfort and healing. Those without mocked him and presumably continued to suffer. At least between now and then...there is symmetry.
Actually it's you I am mocking, with your excuses why your deity refrains from actually helping people here and now, and not:
(a) The Jesus portrayed in the Gospel, who made people better pretty well just because they asked him to, having heard of his reputation as a miracle worker.
(b) The real man behind the stories: we don't know much about him, but he probably at least meant no harm and tried to do whatever good he could.
The 'suppository' theory of help for the suffering (shove religious preaching up their a** and give them no help that they actually want) characterises your view, not his.
[The spell-checker won't let me use "c a n t" as a noun, so I had to change it to "preaching" above]
Chap wrote:Funny about the Gethsemane man, though. I seem to remember that there are stories about him going round making sick people better straight away, just because they wanted to be made better. Maybe he hadn't perfected the suppository plan at the time.
Yes, all those people who came to him in faith found comfort and healing. Those without mocked him and presumably continued to suffer. At least between now and then...there is symmetry.
Actually it's you I am mocking, with your excuses why your deity refrains from actually helping people here and now, and not:
(a) The Jesus portrayed in the Gospel, who made people better pretty well just because they asked him to, having heard of his reputation as a miracle worker.
(b) The real man behind the stories: we don't know much about him, but he probably at least meant no harm and tried to do whatever good he could.
The 'suppository' theory of help for the suffering (shove religious preaching up their a** and give them no help that they actually want) characterises your view, not his.
[The spell-checker won't let me use "c a n t" as a noun, so I had to change it to "preaching" above]
You need electroshock therapy. :)
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
The Nehor wrote: You need electroshock therapy. :)
I'd try it rather than a priesthood blessing any day ...
Then I think you also need a lobotomy. I hear Doctor Nick over in Springfield is giving them at a huge discount.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
The Nehor wrote: You need electroshock therapy. :)
I'd try it rather than a priesthood blessing any day ...
Then I think you also need a lobotomy. I hear Doctor Nick over in Springfield is giving them at a huge discount.
I am sorry that my unkind remark about not wanting a priesthood blessing from you betrayed you into mere witless silliness. My bad. I know you mean well.
The Nehor wrote: You need electroshock therapy. :)
I'd try it rather than a priesthood blessing any day ...
Then I think you also need a lobotomy. I hear Doctor Nick over in Springfield is giving them at a huge discount.
I am sorry that my unkind remark about not wanting a priesthood blessing from you betrayed you into mere witless silliness. My bad. I know you mean well.
I thought that was witty silliness.....I'll try harder next time.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo