Is Uchtdorf the first LDS Christian GA?

[_Buffalo]

The more I think about Deiter's Sunday morning conference talk, the more struck I am how genuinely Christian it was. "Don't judge me because I sin differently." It's clear to me that he not only regularly reads the Gospels, but he also understands and believes them, without feeling the need to radically reinterpret them under the Mormon paradigms of heavy judgmentalism, self-salvation through ordinances, etc. When I was a believer I was very Jesus of the gospels-centric, and I would have eaten this stuff up.

So my question is, is Uchtdorf the first real Christian to serve as an apostle/member of the first presidency? Or have there been others in the past?

[_Drifting]

The more I think about Deiter's Sunday morning conference talk, the more struck I am how genuinely Christian it was. "Don't judge me because I sin differently." It's clear to me that he not only regularly reads the Gospels, but he also understands and believes them, without feeling the need to radically reinterpret them under the Mormon paradigms of heavy judgmentalism, self-salvation through ordinances, etc. When I was a believer I was very Jesus of the gospels-centric, and I would have eaten this stuff up.

So my question is, is Uchtdorf the first real Christian to serve as an apostle/member of the first presidency? Or have there been others in the past?

Dieter's popularity with Christians will be inversely proportionate to his popularity with his 14 cohorts. They won't like him making it stand out how unChristian they are.

[_moksha]

I'm thinking that perhaps the European version of Mormon thought must be different.

[_ldsfaqs]

Strawman alert.....

Uchtdorf is actually my favorite Apostle.
However, as to your claim, it's stupid as usual. The Prophets ALL speak on subjects different ways and a variety of ways. There are many aspects to the Gospel. You say Uchtdorf taught one aspect, well another day another Apostle will teach the same thing and Uchtdorf will teach another aspect on the same subject.

The problem with you anti-mormons is you have tunnel vision.
You only see one thing with the Church or Gospel on a subject, and are clueless of the other levels, facts, teachings, nuances, etc.

Mormonism is the FULLNESS of the Gospel of Christ. That means that for one subject there can be various levels and aspects to it. Leaders generally when they preach on a subject, they preach one aspect of that subject, fleshing it out. One day they will teach that aspect, and another they will teach another aspect.

So in answer to your question, ALL LDS leaders and Mormons are "Christian".

[_Drifting]

So in answer to your question, ALL LDS leaders and Mormons are "Christian".

That's not true, that's not true.
They used to.

As Hinckley pointed out, Mormons no longer worship the same Christ as the rest of Christianity. In this respect the Church has apostatised from the initial teachings of Joseph Smith.

[_Buffalo]

Strawman alert.....

Uchtdorf is actually my favorite Apostle.
However, as to your claim, it's stupid as usual. The Prophets ALL speak on subjects different ways and a variety of ways. There are many aspects to the Gospel. You say Uchtdorf taught one aspect, well another day another Apostle will teach the same thing and Uchtdorf will teach another aspect on the same subject.

The problem with you anti-mormons is you have tunnel vision.
You only see one thing with the Church or Gospel on a subject, and are clueless of the other levels, facts, teachings, nuances, etc.

Mormonism is the FULLNESS of the Gospel of Christ. That means that for one subject there can be various levels and aspects to it. Leaders generally when they preach on a subject, they preach one aspect of that subject, fleshing it out. One day they will teach that aspect, and another they will teach another aspect.

So in answer to your question, ALL LDS leaders and Mormons are "Christian".

None of the other apostles seem to understand the gospels. They prooftext from the usual spots, but only Uchtdorf seems to be picking up what Jesus was laying down.

[_Drifting]

Strawman alert.....

Uchtdorf is actually my favorite Apostle.
However, as to your claim, it's stupid as usual. The Prophets ALL speak on subjects different ways and a variety of ways. There are many aspects to the Gospel. You say Uchtdorf taught one aspect, well another day another Apostle will teach the same thing and Uchtdorf will teach another aspect on the same subject.

The problem with you anti-mormons is you have tunnel vision.
You only see one thing with the Church or Gospel on a subject, and are clueless of the other levels, facts, teachings, nuances, etc.

Mormonism is the FULLNESS of the Gospel of Christ. That means that for one subject there can be various levels and aspects to it. Leaders generally when they preach on a subject, they preach one aspect of that subject, fleshing it out. One day they will teach that aspect, and another they will teach another aspect.

So in answer to your question, ALL LDS leaders and Mormons are "Christian".

Then why do you ignore his counsel that in terms of judging others you should just...wait, I'm searching for his actual words...STOP IT?

This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:

Stop it!

It’s that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children. God is our Father. We are His children. We are all brothers and sisters. I don’t know exactly how to articulate this point of not judging others with sufficient eloquence, passion, and persuasion to make it stick. I can quote scripture, I can try to expound doctrine, and I will even quote a bumper sticker I recently saw. It was attached to the back of a car whose driver appeared to be a little rough around the edges, but the words on the sticker taught an insightful lesson. It read, “Don’t judge me because I sin differently than you.”

[_honorentheos]

I thought President Hunter was Christ-centric in a way that stood out from the other GA's. In his very short term as President, he seemed to focus on two things - Christ and the Temple.

I wondered back then if he had a unique perspective because he didn't follow the usual path to his position. Not serving a mission, having an inactive father...it seemed to make him more tolerant than the Packers and Ballards in the group.

[_consiglieri]

The more I think about Deiter's Sunday morning conference talk, the more struck I am how genuinely Christian it was. "Don't judge me because I sin differently."

Wasn't that a fantastic line? Probably my favorite line from any conference talk ever!

I think Uchtdorf brings a new and vibrant perspective to Mormonism, and is able to encapsulate the essential message of Christianity in his second language better than the other apostles do in their first.

Although, I have to admit that Elder Holland (in the same talk I am criticizing in another thread) did a good job of talking about envy when he said that all of us feel bad when something bad happens to us, but envy makes us feel bad when something good happens to anybody else.

Maybe it's contagious?

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

[_kairos]

This may cause anger in the corridors but quite simply if uchtdorf or any GA or anyone else of any denomination does not have a conversion story-what they were before, what happened, what they were after the conversion, their 'being a Christian' is suspect IMHO.
no formula followed or prayer recited or baptism conducted does not a true /authentic Christain make!!

it's all about grace and has nothing to do with what you "did" to become a Christian- paul's comnversion is the example of what becoming a Christian is all about- i am also suspect that since many have had no true conversion, they often call it a "process". that is bs IMHO.

has dieter or any other GA, outside Joseph Smith for that matter told his conversion story. and what is suspect of Joseph Smith is that one experiencing authentic conversion will know date/time/particulars without any hesitation- so saying "a day in the spring of 1820" says to me it never happened!

people who believe they are Christian without a sustaining true story often fool themselves and believe somehow intellectually or emotionally they have been converted to the point of blasting anyone who says they are not Christian-well blast away!

k