why me wrote:Darth J wrote:
So, what you're saying is that church leaders say a lot of stuff that is supposed to be inspired counsel, and they teach us to follow all of it, but that's unrealistic because it's too much to keep track of.
They don't teach you follow all that is in the Ensign or even at general conference.
One of the things I have learned in this thread is that we should rely on lesson manuals. Don't you agree, Why Me?
Gospel Principles: Chapter 10In addition to these four books of scripture, [the Bible, Book of Mormon, D&C, and Pearl of Great Price]
the inspired words of our living prophets become scripture to us. Their words come to us through conferences, Church publications, and instructions to local priesthood leaders. "We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God" (Articles of Faith 1:9).
Discussion
* Read Doctrine and Covenants 68:4. What is scripture?
* Name the standard works of the Church. Have four people each tell about what is in one of the standard works and how we received it.
* Ask a class member to read or quote the ninth article of faith.
* Show a copy of a Church publication. Have someone read some inspired words of the prophet found there.Ezra Taft Benson, “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet” God’s revelation to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the Ark. Noah needed his own revelation. Therefore the most important prophet so far as you and I are concerned is the one living in our day and age to whom the Lord is currently revealing His will for us. Therefore the most important reading we can do is any of the words of the prophet contained each month in our Church Magazines. Our instructions about what we should do for each six months are found in the General Conference addresses which are printed in the Church magazine.
Beware of those who would set up the dead prophets against the living prophets, for the living prophets always take precedence.Teachings of the Living Prophets Student Manual - Religion 333(4-4) The Most Vital Scripture Is Current Scripture The Lord has made it clear that we are to receive the words of the living prophet as if from the Lord’s own mouth (see D&C 21:5 ).
President Ezra Taft Benson said that the “living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works” (“Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet,” in Speeches of the Year, 1980 [Provo: Brigham Young University, 1981], p. 26). That is because he is alive in our day and speaks for the Lord on the problems we face.
“The most important prophet, so far as we are concerned, is the one who is living in our day and age. This is the prophet who has today’s instructions from God to us today. God’s revelation to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark. Every generation has need of the ancient scripture plus the current scripture from the living prophet. Therefore, the most crucial reading and pondering which you should do is of the latest inspired words from the Lord’s mouthpiece. That is why it is essential that you have access to and carefully read his words in current Church publications.” (Ezra Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Seoul Korea Area Conference 1975, p. 52.)
This statement is in harmony with the words of President Henry D. Moyle, who said:
“The older I get and the closer the contact I have with the President of the Church, the more I realize that the greatest of all scriptures which we have in the world today is current scripture. What the mouthpiece of God says to His children is scripture. It is intended for all the children of God upon the earth. It is His word and His will and His law made manifest through His ordained and anointed servant to the world. What the President says is scripture, and I love it more than all other. It applies to me today specifically, and to you all.” (“Beware of Temptation,” Brigham Young University tri-stake fireside address, [Provo, January 1963], pp. 7–8.)
President Harold B. Lee gave the following explanation of the relationship between the written scriptures of the past and the words of living prophets:
“Sometimes we get the notion that if it is written in a book, it makes it more true than if it is spoken in the last General Conference. Just because it is written in a book does not make it more of an authority to guide us. President Taylor goes on with this same idea and explains why the scriptures of the past are not sufficient for us today:
“‘The Bible is good; and Paul told Timothy to study it, that he might be a workman that need not be ashamed, and that he might be able to conduct himself aright before the living church [there is that word living again], the pillar and ground of truth. The church-mark, with Paul, was the foundation, the pillar, the ground of truth, the living church, not the dead letter. The Book of Mormon is good and the Doctrine and Covenants, as landmarks. But a mariner who launches into the ocean requires a more certain criterion. He must be acquainted with heavenly bodies, and take his observations from them, in order to steer his barque aright. Those books are good for example, precedent, and investigation, and for developing certain laws and principles. But they do not, they cannot, touch every case required to be adjudicated and set in order.
“‘We require a living tree—a living fountain—living intelligence, proceeding from the living priesthood in heaven, through the living priesthood on earth. . . . And from the time that Adam first received a communication from God, to the time that John, on the Isle of Patmos, received his communication, or Joseph Smith had the heavens opened to him, it always required new revelations, adapted to the peculiar circumstances in which the churches or individuals were placed. Adam’s revelations did not instruct Noah to build his ark; nor did Noah’s revelation tell Lot to forsake Sodom: nor did either of these speak of the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt. These all have revelations for themselves, and so had Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Jesus, Peter, Paul, John and Joseph. And so must we, or we shall make a shipwreck.’ ( The Gospel Kingdom, p. 34.) “Lesson 42: Follow the Brethren,” Aaronic Priesthood Manual 2
Show the New Era, the Church News, and the conference issues of the Ensign to the young men, and refer again to the poster or chalkboard. Emphasize that they can know the mind and will of the Lord today by reading, studying, and listening to the words of the Lord’s chosen leaders, including their local leaders, who receive direction from the General Authorities. Bear your testimony that guidance and counsel for today’s problems are available, sharing personal experiences if appropriate.Lesson 37: “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet”, Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s ManualPresident Harold B. Lee taught: “The only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized [see D&C 21:4–5]. … There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you’ [D&C 21:6]” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 152; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1970, 126).
• How can we learn of the prophet’s inspired counsel? (By studying general conference talks, First Presidency Messages, and other articles in the Church magazines and by listening to letters from the First Presidency that are read in Church meetings.)
At the close of a general conference, President Ezra Taft Benson said, “For the next six months, your conference edition of the Ensign should stand next to your standard works and be referred to frequently” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1988, 97; or Ensign, May 1988, 84).
While serving in the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Harold B. Lee made a similar statement during general conference. He said that the report of the conference should “be the guide to [our] walk and talk during the next six months” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1946, 68).People cannot remember what was said yesterday never mind what was said 6 months ago. So, you need to re-evaluate what you are writing.
Oh, of course! I need to re-evaluate where I have written, "Yes, Why Me. When people think that the Church puts excessive demands and unrealistic expectations on its members, it means that critics think Mormons are supposed to have photographic memories. It is not at all the opposite of that."
Back in the day, very few remembered what was said in general conference unless they would refresh their memory by reading the magazine again. Such was life before the internet. And it is still that way. Very few people remember what was said in last year's conference. However, memory refreshing is always possilbe.
That's right, because when I quote something that was said in General Conference, the clear import of what I mean is that faithful Mormons should have a verbatim recollection of what they heard, and I emphatically deny the possibility of refreshing one's memory by reading the Ensign. For example, when I pointed out that the lesson manual you cited specifically tells the teacher to go read Russell M. Nelson's talk in the Ensign, it demonstrated that I categorically exclude the ability of members of the Church to refresh their memory by reading the magazine again.
Now of course, critics like yourself pull out quotations from years ago as if all should know or care about what was said. They don't. End of story.
If nobody cares about what was said, why are they reading the magazine again to refresh their memory?
