The Folk Prophet

I'm glad someone mentioned ark-steadying, because it sums up my thoughts on this fairly well. I do have a few other thoughts. I know of no direct and specific “covenant” to sustain my leaders. I would call that more of a commandment...and the covenant is to obey the commandments. Regardless, interpretation of how to follow certain commandments is certainly left to the individual. Some are laid out in black and white, others are not. I also think that viewpoints of how one does or does not steady the ark are not black and white. And we should not presume that an individual’s choice to join a campaign, in every case, is ark-steadying behavior. That being said, taken as a whole, I believe it fair to view the practices in question as such. In other words, I know some well meaning and righteous people who have interpreted things similarly as some in these threads and take it as their obligation to join in some of these causes. I know these people's hearts and intents. I think they are dead wrong in the approach, but I do not believe they are actively breaking a covenant. I think they are simply blinded by mortal weakness, the same as all of us. I hope that as they continue to push forward in understanding and spirituality that they will eventually see their actions as ark-steadying, unnecessary, and harmful. But we all do things that are unnecessary and harmful. Heaven knows I have. I would hope that when I make those poor choices that others would be patient with me. I would also hope that I eventually get past my silly, selfish, immature, mortal perspective. I think the logic behind Vort’s thinking is sound. However, people, in general are not logical. And this has to be accounted for in how we view their choices and actions. It doesn’t change the fact that we should speak truth clearly and distinctly, but it does apply to how we temper our views of others. I’m a black-and-white thinker with many points of view similar to Vort’s. But most people don’t think that way. Most people are more Kirk than Spock (inner nerd coming out). This doesn’t change the reality of black-and-white in truth, but it does change how we need to communicate, share, debate, and address each other. This is a challenging thing for me. I think the letter-writing-pants-wearing approach is ridiculous. But I can’t honestly believe that everyone involved are covenant breakers. I do, however, based on the same logic, wonder wherein people can view any sort of rebellious action as valid in a church that they supposedly know to be true. If they do not know the church is true, then either get down on your knees, or go follow something that makes more sense. Logically this is valid. But I think we also need to understand that testimony is not a black-and-white state. In many ways it is a journey. I think it’s valid that someone could believe the church is true--even hope the church is true--but struggle with that at some level, perhaps intellectually. In any person’s journey, their testimony and their understanding of the hierarchy of the church, how it works, how change is and should be effected, etc., etc., is a needle on a scale rather than a simple switch. Not being “ON” in this regard does not necessarily equate to being “OFF”. The initial proposition, while sound, does not allow for this.

Just dropping a quick hello. Been reading on the forum for a long time. Decided it was time to join in some of the conversations. Looking forward to it. Incidentally, my username is a childhood nickname and has no reference whatsoever to religion. :)