Doctrinal, administrative and policy decisions, for example, are carefully weighed against historical precedent. The foundational revelations and teachings of the Church serve as the basis for decision-making.
So basically, the church makes decisions just like any other organization.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:46 pm, edited 3 times in total.
"We have taken up arms in defense of our liberty, our property, our wives, and our children; we are determined to preserve them, or die." - Captain Moroni - 'Address to the Inhabitants of Canada' 1775
I'm with Aristotle Smith on this one. The church claims to have this unique experience of revelation permeating it from top to bottom, and then goes on to describe a system which is in no way unique. It is the opposite of unique - the system described could be claimed (other than the specific structure of FP and Q12) by probably every single existing church on the planet.
I have to call BS on the conflation of "revelation" with "inspiration". It allows LDS to continue claiming "revelation", you know, the kind of communication that LDS have always claimed the rest of the Christian world believes ceased with the Bible, while in fact the "inspiration" they are really talking about just about every Bible thumping Christian would claim they get too.
Since Stemelbow has graced this thread with his presence, I'd like to ask him this question.
Stem, Mormons have traditionally claimed that the rest of Christianity believes that "revelation" ceased with the apostles of the New Testament. What did they mean by "revelation"? Since almost all Christians that I've ever met or heard of would lay claim to the kind of inspiration that this message from the church describes, what exactly is the "revelation" that LDS claim they are getting that the rest of Christianity isn't?
Mormonism ceased being a compelling topic for me when I finally came to terms with its transformation from a personality cult into a combination of a real estate company, a SuperPac, and Westboro Baptist Church. - Kishkumen
Like a river guided by its banks, revelation received by Church leadership flows through an orderly channel. Doctrinal, administrative and policy decisions, for example, are carefully weighed against historical precedent. The foundational revelations and teachings of the Church serve as the basis for decision-making. Church leaders work outward from the already established foundation of scripture, teachings, practices and traditions and chart a course for the future.
The part about the river banks is the disappointing part. What if there is a flood (of revelation) and the banks are overtopped? How are the river banks defined? Who has the ability to define these banks? I'm seeing circular logic that keeps spiraling up to the big cats at the top of the religious food chain.
Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given... Zeus (1178 BC)
Some believe that miracles stopped happening at the close of the biblical narrative. Miracles, the thinking goes, just don't happen anymore, because rather than events that cannot be explained without allowing for divine intervention, most of what we do is attributable to ourselves.
Well, I believe in miracles, just like the miracles found in the Bible. This puts me in a unique position.
For example, one time I needed to cross a large body of water. After carefully thinking it over and praying about it, I got in my car and drove across a suspension bridge that had been designed by modern engineers, was built and is maintained by large numbers of working people, and has had its initial and ongoing costs paid by tax dollars and tolls. This was a miracle, just like Moses parting the Red Sea.
Another time, I was hungry. I drove myself to the store, where they had various food items for sale. I decided what I wanted to buy, then paid for it with my own money. Then I brought that food home, prepared it using the machines and utensils in my kitchen, and ate it. This was another miracle, just like the LORD feeding the children of Israel with manna from heaven, as we read about in Exodus 16.
Then there was the time I got sick. I went to a clinic, where I was seen by nurses who had quite a bit of education and experience. Then I saw a doctor, who had gone to college, medical school, completed an internship, and done a residency. He then had to study and pass exams to be able to practice medicine and become board-certified. Using scientific medical procedures that have been tested and refined over a long period of time, as well as relying on his own extensive experience to make inferences from the tests he did using modern technology, he prescribed a medication for me. This medication was subjected to clinical trials and FDA approval before it was given to me by a trained pharmacist. Eventually, the medication made my symptoms go away. This was a miracle, just like when Jesus healed the lepers.
Miracles permeate every facet of my life, from top to bottom. My belief in the presence of miracles in my life gives me a unique message that is distinguishable from the experiences of everyone else living in modern times.
Meh, everyone knows that Daniel Peterson and the apologists at NWI, FAIR and the wannabee apologists are the "New Prophets" of the cult of Mormonism.
When you are having issues with the cult, does the COB want to hear about it? No. "Don't write us a letter." is their answer. So who do you go to? Your Stake President and your Bishop. Where do they point you?
AT THE APOLOGISTS... That's where I was pointed at (FARMS at that time).
Want revelation? Want to know mysteries that the boys at the COB won't tell you or that they don't know or want you to pray about it?
Get your answer with the apologists.
So what if the boys at the COB are keeping their mouth shut about the location of Hill Cumorah. The boys at BYU et all will show you the LGT.
Don't know much about the Book of Abraham? Don't write us a letter. The apologists have it covered. Pick your poison... Cypher, Catalyst, Crap.
The boys at the COB only have room for watered down stories of blessings that come from cutting them a check. The apologists have the meat you are looking for.
All is well in a Zion full of plausible deniability.
This type generally does not lead well established organizations since they cannot bother to go through the necessary hoops to get the position.
like Jesus perhaps?
And when the confederates saw Jackson standing fearless as a stone wall the army of Northern Virginia took courage and drove the federal army off their land.
I think the statement is designed to lower members expectations for their GA's. It is a direct response to the accusation that the Prophet and Apostles don't talk to God or Christ directly and haven't had a revelation or issued a prophecy since Joseph Smith.
It is also the removal of another point of difference between Mormonism and Potestant based Christianity.
“We look to not only the spiritual but also the temporal, and we believe that a person who is impoverished temporally cannot blossom spiritually.” Keith McMullin - Counsellor in Presiding Bishopric
"One, two, three...let's go shopping!" Thomas S Monson - Prophet, Seer, Revelator