A few things on my mind I need to try and articulate regarding the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints….
Some people get upset with me because I very rarely sensor comments on my Facebook threads, especially when someone has a critical thought about leaders of my church and how they are reacting to this last year. Which yes, sometimes makes anyone pause who thinks critically about freedom and Liberty, and where the United States is concerned in both.
So sometimes you have to wonder if are people getting offended because it’s hurting the church leaders, or it’s hurting their ego and they’ve allowed themselves to become offended and challenged their thoughts into a cognitive dissonance they couldn’t handle, so they blame the uncomfortableness on now “YOU” being apostate. When really it’s them not allowing themselves to think or feel properly.
Yes, there’s times where people cross the line, especially church members speaking ill of the men called at this time, for whatever reason. No, maybe they aren’t Ezra Taft Benson, but have these current men serving nit given their entire lives to the work of God, for how many years?
President Oaks has been an apostle since I was around 2 years old. An apostle, with a busy schedule focused on trying to build the kingdom of God. And some are openly bad mouthing him because he didn’t use words in his last talk like Ezra Taft Benson would have used? So we are now bad mouthing him? I must admit I was sad to see so many negative comments on my post which read “President Oaks for President” a few days ago.
Well, maybe he didn’t say it like Benson would have said it, but maybe because Benson already said it! And very few listened to him then; very few got politically engaged; how many of you went to every caucus meeting when the church asked you to go? Further, how many who wear masks (because the church put out a letter) but failed to go to those caucus meetings for years?
So if we didn’t listen then, why would God have them preach freedom now? Why is the prophet now preaching FAITH in his last talk? Faith? Literally the first principle of the gospel?
I believe it’s because we may have gotten what we deserved. Milk. A mask. A vaccine. All telestial solutions, because not very many people were turning to God for the solutions in the first place, even some leaders in the church. Some have even turned to government as the solution. I don’t believe this is the churches fault.
We, the men, failed years ago. This is mostly our fault. I know that’s a hard pill to swallow because I’m in the same boat. Guilty. I don’t even know who’s on my own city council, because I think the solution is on the state level, which yes it is, but power comes from more inside the circle than we think. The helm to a ship.
Did not President Nelson say it anymore crystal clear, “We will open as far as the government allows us to open” In other words, we are subject to the very government WE deserve because of OUR unfaithfulness towards true liberty, with engaged civic duty. Remember, this is directly after a talk from President Oaks saying it should be “We the People” who govern our leaders, and no man should be above another.
So from Oaks to Nelson, I believe they were saying, look within and HELP US help YOU. That’s the major take away I saw. That this is our faults more than we know.
We’ve been building Babylon for far too long, while the adversary swooped in and started abusing the bride (the church) …, That’s what I believe is happening. They can’t do what we think they can do, because it’s not their role.
However, like President Oaks said, it’s the role of We The People, to “uphold and defend” the constitution through holding offices nobody good really wants to run for or hold office. God knows I don’t.
So then why do we turn around a blame the church? Is it because we want them to not only hold our hand through the war in and out of heaven, but now hold our hand while we fight for our earthly wars for freedom? After listening to Oaks AND Nelson, the message couldn’t have been more clear. It’s not their job. It’s our job. And WE are failing. Especially blaming them for our lack of real civic engagement.
Yes, even though I too get frustrated watching men not act like the men while serving in a role similar to a woman’s; wasn’t the scriptures clear that it’s sometimes guys like Captain Moroni (who didn’t have a church calling that we know of) get recognized by Mormon (over the prophet at the time) “If all men were like unto”…. who? Captain Moroni. A man fighting for Liberty without a church calling. In the time he was living in, where Government was too corrupted, I don’t think Captain Moroni COULD’VE have a church calling and done what he did. Because the church was getting abused then too. And Captain Moroni was “Angry” with who? The government.
The church may be likened unto the woman who’s single and soul job is to protect protect protect, under any circumstance. Protect her home, protect her children, protect family, …. We as the husbands and elders of Israel FAILED to DEFEND the woman, especially through our civic duty for Liberty over the years, because of the comforts and easiness of the way. We led ourselves into captivity because of too much prosperity mixed with immorality, who built up Babylon for the vain things of the world. And we are all guilty. I know I am.
“13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev 12
It seems we can only blame the government and now churches for so long until we actually rise up and take control of our own lives and communities. There’s no other way.
Yes the church is imperfect; because it’s ran by imperfect men just trying to do what’s right; But lets please stop blaming the church for the job we are failing to do; which is to protect her.
No I don’t like it, but this last General Conference made me realize I am the problem way more than I’ve been believing. We aren’t doing our part. We aren’t truly engaged or organized like we need to be.
I love our church leaders and though I may not agree with all of their politics and exact tactics, I am so thankful for their life-long selfless service for the Kingdom of God on the earth today. God bless and continue to sustain them in the storms that are bound to happen in the last days.
And I don’t care if you disagree with me. I love you anyway.
