Behold, pay tithing during this recession

[_Sethbag]

Yeah, but it won't be quite as awesome.

But the scriptures say we can be just like Him. It shouldn't matter if I pay since I'm 8 or 88, right? The prodigal son got everything his father had just like the one who stayed and worked, right?

No, and that's why the prodigal son parable was such an awful parable in regards to Christianity, even when i was a believer. The prodigal son got a ring, and a robe, and a nice meal with a fatted calf, but when the father died, the son who never was prodigal got it all, and the prodigal son got jack squat.

[_ajax18]

No, and that's why the prodigal son parable was such an awful parable in regards to Christianity, even when i was a believer. The prodigal son got a ring, and a robe, and a nice meal with a fatted calf, but when the father died, the son who never was prodigal got it all, and the prodigal son got jack squat.

That would have been a more just ending to the parable. That's not the way I ever heard it though. The prodigal son got just as much as the one who worked his tail off, saved etc. Is that the way you would have liked it? Would you still feel that way if I were the prodigal and you were the workhorse?

[Anonymous]

No, and that's why the prodigal son parable was such an awful parable in regards to Christianity, even when i was a believer. The prodigal son got a ring, and a robe, and a nice meal with a fatted calf, but when the father died, the son who never was prodigal got it all, and the prodigal son got jack squat.

That would have been a more just ending to the parable. That's not the way I ever heard it though. The prodigal son got just as much as the one who worked his tail off, saved etc. Is that the way you would have liked it? Would you still feel that way if I were the prodigal and you were the workhorse?

You ought to read it again. It's in Luke 15. The robe, the ring, and the fatted calf were in celebration of the prodigal son's return, but he was never restored to a position of inheritance with respect to his father's possessions.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

[_ajax18]

But how would you have liked the parable to end and why?

[_Sethbag]

But how would you have liked the parable to end and why?

I don't mind how it ended at all. The prodigal son got what he deserved, and the father celebrated his return, etc. What the parable does not say, however, is the message of universal and equivalent salvation that Christians would like it to say. That is, even if you're a sinner, you can repent, and the Father will forgive you and you can still inherit everything the righteous do. If you want that message, you need to skip the prodigal son and go to the workers in the vineyard parable - that one will give you what you want to hear.

[_ajax18]

That is, even if you're a sinner, you can repent, and the Father will forgive you and you can still inherit everything the righteous do.

This is the doctrine that I hated so bad I quit the Church. Would this be a fair characterization of LDS doctrine in your opinion? It seems to me that the LDS church used to be completely opposed to this doctrine. But somewhere along the way it seems like they changed to accept it. Maybe it's just different people and no official doctrine but it sure seemed to me that the Church changed.

I still can't grasp the LDS view on what is Mormon doctrine. If you were a believer, is there a way to get around or deal with these seeming contradictions in doctrine. Most of the answers I've gotten have been personal attacks on me for being irritated with the discrepancy. Have you ever heard anything of substance? How can the Church honestly claim they have a doctrine on this issue when they seem to have two contradictory stories?

[_harmony]

Thank you for sharing that message with us today, home teacher. I feel that you are one of the choice spirits our Father in Heaven placed on this earth to sojourn during these most difficult times.

As we celebrate the birth of Christ this year, let him be first on our Christmas shopping lists. Let us be generous in our tithes to him, and from what we might have left shall we take for the giving of gifts to each other.

I too can testify to the power of tithing. Last year, a close relative of ours, a good and conservative man -- an executive by trade -- found himself out of work. Without a job, he expected to lose one of his homes in the mountains of Colorado which for years has served as a retreat for family and close friends for a couple weeks during the christmas season. He expressed to me his concern one night during a private phone conversation. I asked him if he'd been paying his tithing. he replied that he had and would do so willingly, no matter what the consequences. I assured this good brother, and relative, that things would work out.

The Lord opened the windows of heaven for this man. Within two weeks, a contract had opened in the City Creek area for a project relating to a most significant building project, and he was selected as a consultant. Because of this fantastic opportunity, he not only saved his home, the one in Colorado, but was able to expand it with an additional wing. And because this position allowed him to work remotely, he was able to enjoy an additional two weeks in that home. Some of the brethren and myself were able to visit and enjoy a meal there one evening.

God will not be mocked, his rewards and punishments are very real.

Another reason to open the books.

[_Mercury]

Ahh Wants mah fuhteeee achahs and ahh mewillllll!!!!!!!!

[_The Nehor]

No, and that's why the prodigal son parable was such an awful parable in regards to Christianity, even when i was a believer. The prodigal son got a ring, and a robe, and a nice meal with a fatted calf, but when the father died, the son who never was prodigal got it all, and the prodigal son got jack squat.

That would have been a more just ending to the parable. That's not the way I ever heard it though. The prodigal son got just as much as the one who worked his tail off, saved etc. Is that the way you would have liked it? Would you still feel that way if I were the prodigal and you were the workhorse?

The younger son went in and enjoyed the feast. The elder son was too busy seething with resentment to do so.

The idea that working your tail off and doing all the right things earns you a spot in eternal glory is one thing Christ taught relentlessly against. It was the people who came to him that got in. The commandments do two valuable things, they teach us virtue and they show us by our utter failure to keep them that we can't pull it off. This tends to create three classes of people:

Pharisee-type: Those convinced they are living right because of focus on gnats and swallowing camels. They're convinced God is quite pleased with them and think everyone else should be.

Despairing: Those who realize they're never going to measure up and either don't understand or out of pride refuse the atonement. They become martyrs trying and failing with resentment building between them and God.

Humble: The people who try to succeed, fail, turn the whole thing over to Jesus as his responsibility and put it behind them. They sleep the sleep of the just because they've been washed clean and wake up again to try and fail again, hopefully by a little less this time. Meanwhile they are humble enough to partake of the divine nature of Christ and they change to become more like him.

In regards to those who are convinced God isn't giving them their due the answer from God would probably be, "What is that to thee?"

[_ajax18]

I'm glad you've found peace in this explanation Nehor. For me it's always been a glaring sore. If Christianity is not this

You ought to read it again. It's in Luke 15. The robe, the ring, and the fatted calf were in celebration of the prodigal son's return, but he was never restored to a position of inheritance with respect to his father's possessions.

I find no peace in it at all. I guess I just have a different feeling on what would be the ultimate good. But then again I suspect the Church makes things perfectly vague to keep as many people in as they can. Maybe that's true, maybe not, but it seems that way to me.

But in your opinion would it be fair to say that a person with my beliefs as listed in the quote above doesn't really belong in the Mormon Church?