The Folk Prophet

Seems to me (without looking into it at all) that being in the world but not of the world is pretty straight forward. Being in the world is literal. We are. Simple. But, of course, there are extremists who would entirely shut themselves from the world, never interact with others, etc. I think there's a time and a place for that, but generally speaking, you have a job, you go to school, you go out to eat, you go to movies and theater, etc. Not of the world, of course, is also fairly plain to me. Don't go to bad movies just because the world makes them and advocates their normalcy. Don't work a job where you are exposed to things you shouldn't be (as far as you can help it, and within reason). Don't join in with the way other students act, behave, and think just because it is trendy. Don't waste your money on going out to eat when you can't afford it, etc. And, above all, be Christ-like and bring the gospel the world, standing for Him at all times and in all places.

I am not. You're saying that I am is condescending though.

Ah...the, "You're offensive so I win the argument," tactic. A classic. Kind of the go-to for the liberal crowd though. So no originality points.

Condescension is in the eye of the beholder. Of course, I find nothing reasonable about your and duff's discussion, approach, tactics, or accusations. So....

This is entirely irrelevant to a bishop having the right to declare someone exempt from keeping the commandments.

We aren't putting limits on God's ways. But God has made promises, decrees, and has established orders, and has declared himself an unchanging God. He has clearly specified in multiple upon multiple ways how his church is established in the latter days, and a lay-member coming in and correcting the presidency and quorum of the twelve is not it. He has also established his pattern for revelation based on stewardship, and we have no right to revelation outside our stewardships. That is God's word.

There's something mistaken in this sort of thinking. The very idea that God leads the church but then would inspire a member that the church is wrong...there's a problem in that. I'd suggest that if someone is receiving "revelation" that the church is in the wrong that they ought to reconsider the source of that revelation. A bishop does not have any right to exempt someone from commandments.

Quick correction. The law of tithing and the law of consecration are separate laws. One is not a subset of the other. But your point remains.

I think this is putting it very kindly.

If the shoe doesn't fit then why are you wearing it? I do not doubt your sincerity. I doubt your motivation, you goal, and your intent. But for the sake of argument, I will answer: -You don't consider the priesthood ban terrible? This was already addressed by several others and I let their answers stand. But no, I do not. -Or that people were killed to atone for their own sins? This question is based on a false premise and so is hard to answer legitimately. You are implying within it (at least) two things that are false. 1. That the church is responsible for said killings. And, 2. The principle of blood atonement is known, understood, and based on that understanding, is wrong. Both of these premises are false, which means I cannot legitimately answer yes or no. What I can say is that I do not believe that the church supported any murder in the early days of the church. But what I can also say is that IF (all caps for emphasis) the church DID happen to support any such murders, and such actions were taken because the church leaders directed said action, then I would take it in the same vein as Nephi being commanded to kill Laban. However, all that IF is meaningless, because the church did not support or condone any murders or other illegal killings in its early days. -Or horrible that some of the early prophets took other mens wives? If you think this is horrible it only shows that you do not have the historical education to understand the situations. -You think it was their duty to hand over their wives, and that was the right decision? The only example I know of where a man was commanded to hand over his wife was Heber C. Kimball, and upon agreeing to do so, he was told it had only been a test, and he was then sealed to his wife. The other instances of polyandry were never forced and were likely eternal sealings only (there is no evidence of concurrent sexual relations with different husbands in mortality to whom said wives were jointly "married".) -You don't think it would have been better not to follow that prophetic call? I do not, and have plainly stated my view. It is never the wrong choice to follow the prophet.

Any comment they disagree with is easy enough to write off as "just their opinion" with their thesis. Plus, you know, not canonized, so not doctrinal, etc. It's really quite a clever tactic. Only one problem. See my signature line about prophets. The word "inconcievable" gets used wrong. The improbability drive gets set to max. Brains explode. Dogs and cats living together. Mass hysteria!

If said ideas are intended to criticize or otherwise impair the church, then yes. If said ideas are half-truths at best and presented with a clearly hostile intent, then yes.

Because the question is based on lies.

Ha ha. I've never heard that "duty" before.

You've exposed your hand and shown yourself to be nothing more than a run-of-the-mill anti-Mormon with this one.

He says as he discredits their authority, inspiration, power, and right to lead the church.

When speaking as the prophet from the pulpit and giving direction to the church, yes. Which terrible consequences would those be? If you're referring to the extremists who, in disregard to prophetic counsel, went out and murdered people based on some such proposed theory, or those who tried to justify straight up adultery, also disregarding the prophet, then you need to look back at the "disregarded the prophet" part of these examples. There have never been terrible consequences to obeying a prophet. Ever.

Who, exactly, are you to proclaim what does and does not count as the word of Christ?

Yes. If they do not humble themselves and willingly submit to God's ordained patterns and authority. Yes. This is a church of humility, obedience, sacrifice, consecration, and long-suffering. Get on board. It is the Lord's way. And yet the scriptures are replete with examples of just such. Such as?

Having faith is a choice.

Technically, the bishop has the right to inspiration and to deny a temple recommend based on nothing but said inspiration, and to grill anyone he feels so inspired to grill on said revelation, regardless of your defensive posturing.

This concept is entirely irrelevant to the principle. Following the prophet is a principle of right that must be exercised with faith regardless of the imperfections of the prophet. And we will be held accountable for our disregarding of the living prophet's words. Moreover, following the prophet is a different concept entirely than agreeing with everything he says (perhaps also, slightly problematic in other ways, but a different issue.) Ordaining a man of African decent before the 1978 proclamation, whether the ban was inspired or not, meant excommunication, loss of temple blessings, loss of the Holy Ghost, and loss of exaltation without repentance. Likewise, disregarding the word of wisdom, even if one takes the liberal approach that it was never meant to be enforced (I call total baloney on that...but for the sake of argument...), means the same. I, on the other hand, am bothered by the ideology that strict obedience is thought of as "obsession". Well so be it. If you call me obsessed for strictly keeping the word of wisdom, I'll own it. I am obsessed with obedience to every principle, law, ordinance, and teaching of the gospel. Not sure why that would bother anyone though...unless they were intent on tearing down the kingdom, raising up Satan, allowing for free indulgence of sin with no consequence, or otherwise trying to push related agendas. You say that's not your intent...but if that is the case, then why would it possibly "bother" you that anyone is obsessed with doing right per the prophet's guidance?

No we don't. Since when did that stop us?

Maybe we need to be taught what we don't seem to universally understand. But bull anyhow. In the Sunday School manual, pretty much, all 46 lessons are on Christ, directly. In the Teachings of the Presidents for the year there is fully one lesson on following the living prophet. ONE! And even it speaks about Jesus Christ. Otherwise we have a wide gamut of topics -- everything from prayer to agency to chastity to repentance, etc. I would dare bet that you could go through the lessons in this manual and would not find a single one that did not mention Christ in multiples. Many of the lessons therein are direct teachings of His. (Prayer, agency, repentance, the word, missionary work, etc., etc.)

How is that problematic if the prophet's are the voice of Christ on the earth? That's like saying we should spend more time delving into personal revelation that into scripture study. We should be doing both. There is no conflict with following our leaders and following Christ. They represent Him. By the same vein of thought, lessons about following the prophet (I've never heard it phrased "obedience" to the prophet in any lesson I've seen or read) are lessons about following Christ. So are lessons about tithing, word of wisdom, home teaching, fasting, temple worship, keeping the Sabbath holy, etc., etc., etc.