"It will all work out"

[_Scottie]

I hear this phrase ALLL THE TIME from my Mormon friends when I press them on critical flaws in Mormonism.

There are 2 very distinct flaws which I throw out to make my LDS friends think.

First, say an LDS couple gets sealed in the temple, lives together for 6 months when the husband is tragically killed. The wife finds out she is pregnant. She later marries another man, who raises the child as his own, and the couple lives happily until a ripe old age. The man was never able to seal himself to the woman, nor to the child. Who will the wife and child be with?

Second, I'm sure that somewhere in the past, someone thought they had properly received the priesthood by laying on of hands, but for some reason, they did not. Perhaps the records were confused, perhaps the man was just embarrassed and pretended that he had the priesthood, perhaps he had been secretly excommunicated but was too ashamed to admit it... there could be a 100 reasons. This boy who though he had received the priesthood, did not. He goes on to mistakenly give the priesthood to his sons, who do so to their sons. We have a whole generation of saints who did not properly gain the priesthood.

The answers I get... "God will make it all work out."

That's a great pat answer. However, if God has the ability to "work it out" outside of the proper protocols, why does He require us to use the protocols at all? What is the point of sealings if He can arbitrarily "work it out" for us anyways? Shouldn't we just be able to live with our loved ones in the afterlife without being sealed on Earth? What is the point of laying on of hands to transfer the priesthood if He can "work it out" and give a whole generation the priesthood without proper authority being used? Shouldn't we all just automatically get the priesthood when we turn 12 (and the Melchizedek when we turn 18)?

Not only that, but what if it DOESN'T work out? What if the new husband doesn't get to see any of his children or wife because they were all sealed to the 1st husband? What if this generation of men do not have the priesthood because of an improper transferring 100 years ago?

[_SoHo]

Another one I throw out is the armless person taking out his/her endowments.

[_Yoda]

The "It will all work out" philosophy is again, the ultimate faith in God, that God will do what is right for His children.

The protocols and rituals are done out of respect and commitment, but ultimately, God knows what is in our hearts, and will work things out accordingly.

[_Scottie]

The "It will all work out" philosophy is again, the ultimate faith in God, that God will do what is right for His children.

Unless they are not LDS, in which case they MUST do these ordinances, even for the deceased, otherwise they won't get into heaven.

The protocols and rituals are done out of respect and commitment, but ultimately, God knows what is in our hearts, and will work things out accordingly.

Who are we disrespecting if we don't do the rituals?

[_Yoda]

The "It will all work out" philosophy is again, the ultimate faith in God, that God will do what is right for His children.

Unless they are not LDS, in which case they MUST do these ordinances, even for the deceased, otherwise they won't get into heaven.

The protocols and rituals are done out of respect and commitment, but ultimately, God knows what is in our hearts, and will work things out accordingly.

Who are we disrespecting if we don't do the rituals?

I don't necessarily think you are correct in either scenario. At least, I don't look at it the same way you do. A "good faith attempt" should be taken, as far as ordinances for the dead are concerned, but again, ultimately, God will make things right.

It is not a matter of disrespecting God if we don't do the rituals, but doing the rituals is an added means of respect.

[_Scottie]

I don't necessarily think you are correct in either scenario. At least, I don't look at it the same way you do. A "good faith attempt" should be taken, as far as ordinances for the dead are concerned, but again, ultimately, God will make things right.

Interesting view, however, I'm not sure that most of the LDS community would agree with you. The ordinances are NECESSARY for salvation. That is why the millennium will be dedicated to doing temple work. There are a whooooole lotta un-endowed spirits up there waiting for their endowments to get into heaven.

This seems to almost be on par with a "mercy for me, justice for everyone else" type of thing, except in reverse. If someone is LDS and something goes wrong, well, it will all work out. But for a non-LDS, there is no other way except the LDS way. The ordinances MUST be done! God won't "work it out" for them.

[_scripturesearcher]

I don't necessarily think you are correct in either scenario. At least, I don't look at it the same way you do. A "good faith attempt" should be taken, as far as ordinances for the dead are concerned, but again, ultimately, God will make things right.

Interesting view, however, I'm not sure that most of the LDS community would agree with you. The ordinances are NECESSARY for salvation. That is why the millennium will be dedicated to doing temple work. There are a whooooole lotta un-endowed spirits up there waiting for their endowments to get into heaven.

This seems to almost be on par with a "mercy for me, justice for everyone else" type of thing, except in reverse. If someone is LDS and something goes wrong, well, it will all work out. But for a non-LDS, there is no other way except the LDS way. The ordinances MUST be done! God won't "work it out" for them.

I believe that Scottie has an excellent point here.
I am not LDS, but from what the LDS missionaries have told me, the main difference between traditional Christians and LDS is the authority that the "true" church posses and the ordinances that are followed.

If God will "work it out" then why would traditional Christians ever need to become LDS?