Let's all self-identify as Mormons

[_maklelan]

Yes I do because I self-identify with it.

I will not have this discussion while you are being openly dishonest for rhetorical effect.

[_Sanctorian]

Yes I do because I self-identify with it.

I will not have this discussion while you are being openly dishonest for rhetorical effect.

I don't understand why you keep accusing me of dishonesty? Self-identity is just that, self-identity. Why do YOU get to tell me I'm being dishonest about MY self-identity? I'm a Mormon. STOP TELLING ME I'M NOT BECAUSE I DON'T FIT YOUR DEFINITION. by the way, this is what you accuse many of us in doing to you. God, you really are a prick.

[_RockSlider]

I have had to repeatedly emphasize that I am not addressing understanding Mormonism, but speaking authoritatively about it, particularly against those who identify as Mormon.

Authority ... what authority are you talking about Mak? Priesthood Authority? Leadership Authority? Ownership Authority? Legal Authority?

I work for a very large Corporation, I'm a member of that corporation and yet I hold a position with NO authority to speak for that Corporation ("actionable violation of employee handbook rules") There are a few individuals within the corporation who have authority to address specific issues.

In the Mormonism I know, the general membership have no authority to speak for the Church (actionable violation, with a history), Bishops have some authority, SP's some etc.

Now of course this is in the view of the ecclesiastical chain of authority. And yet the Mormon Doctrine (well once upon a time anyway) would have placed a Patriarch as the highest order of Authority available to a man.

Mak, I'm "inactive" and bitter towards the corporation. And yet I'm Mormon and the Patriarch of two generations so far. Does that Authority (Patriarch) give me the right to speak of what Mormonism is?

[_Lemmie]

I have had to repeatedly emphasize that I am not addressing understanding Mormonism, but speaking authoritatively about it, particularly against those who identify as Mormon.

Here's my problem. Mak converted to Mormonism at age 20, he holds no church leadership position, but he considers he is speaking authoritatively about it, 'particularly against those who identify as Mormon.'

Happy to have your opinions Mak, but please understand you are NOT an authority. You do not have experience as a BIC Mormon, you have still attended the Mormon church only about 1/3 of the time I did in my lifetime, you do not know first hand what is involved in being raised in the church.

[_RockSlider]

Some have suggested a dishonest identity switches. I know I can sure easily flip back and forth. And we all have seen it in some fairly well know individuals, with very large swings of the pendulum over relatively short periods of time.

Questions I ask myself with varying answers:

Am I atheist?, Am I Christian? Am I a believer in a God?

These are the hard self assigned identities.

Am I Mormon ... yes I am, by Birth Right, BIC ... no adoption going on here. Does this self identity have squat to do with the swing of my spiritual pendulum? .... No.

Good hell, the Jews figured this out a long time ago ... Is your Mother a Jew? well guess what, like it or not, you are a Jew!

[_RockSlider]

Also Mak,

I assume you are an Elder. I'm a High Priest. As I noted earlier, I'm inactive and feel very strongly the Church is corrupt. Have I lost my Priesthood? Have I lost my right to bless my family with it? Would I not preside over you, in authority with regards to all things Mormon?

[_sock puppet]

I don't self-identify as Mormon, and I'm not in the habit of lying about my self-identification on a message board to score rhetorical points.

But it seems about as ceremoniously efficacious as, say, ordinances.

[_sock puppet]

Also Mak,

I assume you are an Elder. I'm a High Priest. As I noted earlier, I'm inactive and feel very strongly the Church is corrupt. Have I lost my Priesthood? Have I lost my right to bless my family with it? Would I not preside over you, in authority with regards to all things Mormon?

Pulling rank there, Rock? Nice Mormony move.

[_lostindc]

I 100% self-identify as Mormon. At this point in my life I believe that Joseph Smith was a fraud, the Book of Mormon is man-made, prophets don't exist in the Mormon sense, Doctrine and Covenants is an extremely concerning text, and that if God does in fact exist, then God either doesn't have the power many believe God does or God is not all that great of a whatever God is.

I am a Mormon. No one can take that away from me. Other Mormons like me exist, and we're just as Mormon as anyone else that claims to be Mormon. Furthermore, i love my Mormon tribe and hope I have chances to show love for Mormons and non-Mormons.

[_RockSlider]

Pulling rank there, Rock? Nice Mormony move.

Just wondering what authority we are talking about and how much of old Mormonism this new Mormonism might embrace.

It seems the foundational measure of "ingroup" authority would still be the Priesthood, right? So I'm an official holder, with linage charts back to Peter, James and John.

So do I preside over you in authority in the Priesthood or not Mak?