wenglund wrote: With all due respect, you have made the rookie mistake of failing to consider the most critical component of the faith equation--i.e. the intent and purpose of the restored gospel of Christ. Had you considered it, and accurtely understood what the intent and purpose is, then you may have grasped that the restored gospel of Christ is a VEHICLE (like the car in my analogy) that is designed to take us to a given destination--i.e salvation and exaltation in Christ wherein we become like him in fulness of joy and love. (see the three-fold mission of the Church)
There's no mistake. I have considered the true "intent and purpose of the restored gospel of Christ" at great length, and it's rather obvious that it's about money and control. An objective observer can easily see that, whereas someone swimming in the deep end of Mormon silliness has to think it has something to do with becoming like Jesus.
The problem is that Jesus is a myth. You trying to tell me I've failed to understand the "intent and purpose of the restored gospel of Christ" is like me claiming you've failed to understand the intent and purpose of The Force™.
I agree about one thing; it's a vehicle alright. But it's a vehicle that makes a few old guys in Utah a lot of money.
wenglund wrote:It teaches that families can only be together in the afterlife if all members are righteous, which causes unfounded grief and unnecessary burdens on parents with “wayward” children, not to mention the guilt and increased difficulty in expressing honest points of view on the part of children. In other words, while the church claims to be a “family first” organization, what they teach effectively breaks families apart. And what’s worse is that often, when you bring this up with a believer, they’ll blame the family itself rather than acknowledging the church’s culpability in the situation. Recovery for Mormonism? You better believe it.
I appreciate you sharing this with us. And, while I hear what you are saying, I think you, and others who may view the Church in this same way, are more than a little confused, and have a flawed perception of what is meant by "family first" or "family oriented" Church, and an incorrect grasp of what the intent and purpose of the Church really is.
So what you're really saying (based on this and the quotes I snipped) is that while the church claims to be a family first oganization, what it really means is that it's a believing, obeying, tithe-paying Mormon family first organization. In other words, it's a religion first organization disguised as a family first organization.
Yep, I agree.
God belief is for people who don't want to live life on the universe's terms.
