Take up the cross, and follow me

[mikbone]

After reading the tread http://www.lds.net/forums/lds-gospel-discussion/52609-leadership-meetings.html I was wondering, how the Church now is different then in the time of Christ or when the Church was first re-organized.

For example, the original latter-day missionaries were asked to leave their families (wives, and children) for years at a time without purse or script. Now young men or women are asked to save for their missions and serve a term of 18 months or 2 years. And if you ask for an extension you can extend for a month or two, but rarely any longer.

Likewise in the parable of the rich young man Mark 10:17-31, a young man asks the Lord how he can inherit eternal life and the Lord states, "sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."

I have a profitable business and am the father of a large family. What do you think President Monson would say, if I were to come up to him at general conference and state. I have sold all my goods and given all of my substance to the poor. I have left my wife and children's welfare in the hands of my local ward. I wish to inherit eternal life. I want to take up my cross and follow the Lord. What shall I do?

What kind of response do you think He would have?

[skalenfehl]

I would hope that he, like Nephi, would ask you, "have ye inquired of the Lord?"

[Vort]

What do you think President Monson would say, if I were to come up to him at general conference and state. I have sold all my goods and given all of my substance to the poor. I have left my wife and children's welfare in the hands of my local ward. I wish to inherit eternal life. I want to take up my cross and follow the Lord. What shall I do?

What kind of response do you think He would have?

In addition to skalenfehl's response, I suspect he might say something like, "Can you answer to God for your stewardships?"

[Anddenex]

What shall I do?

What kind of response do you think He would have?

I assume he would say something similar to this, "There isn't a possibility for you to enter the kingdom of heaven without your wife. Serve God and serve your family."

[rameumptom]

After reading the tread http://www.lds.net/forums/lds-gospel-discussion/52609-leadership-meetings.html I was wondering, how the Church now is different then in the time of Christ or when the Church was first re-organized....

I have a profitable business and am the father of a large family. What do you think President Monson would say, if I were to come up to him at general conference and state. I have sold all my goods and given all of my substance to the poor. I have left my wife and children's welfare in the hands of my local ward. I wish to inherit eternal life. I want to take up my cross and follow the Lord. What shall I do?

What kind of response do you think He would have?

He would say, "Did the Lord tell you personally to do all that?" As it is, the young rich man in the NT may not have had wife and kids to consider. Christ did not tell everyone to sell all they had and follow him, but only the one man. The woman caught in adultery was commanded to "go and sin no more." Others were told to repent, or do other things as needed for that specific individual.

That's a big problem with having a church based solely on the Bible, and not on current revelation. One size does not fit all. This type of view ignores the teachings in the Old Testament, and much in the New Testament, as well. It takes one story, and applies it universally in a way that should not be done.

The Law of Moses dealt in black and white. Everyone had to do things in a specific way. There were few options. But with Christ, we learn that there is room for gray areas. While the letter of the law kills, the "Spirit giveth life", as it adjusts things according to the present need.

So, in Adam's day, there was no need for a large and extensive priesthood organization. For centuries there were Patriarchs, then Prophets and Priests. Apostles were not needed until Jesus' day. So, the system adjusts, according to the needs of the period.

We do not live the Law of Moses today, because it is not part of the commandment for us now. Following living prophets allow us to understand how to apply scripture to us today.

[mikbone]

That's a big problem with having a church based solely on the Bible, and not on current revelation. One size does not fit all. This type of view ignores the teachings in the Old Testament, and much in the New Testament, as well. It takes one story, and applies it universally in a way that should not be done.

Thanks, my example was silly by intent.

If my 18 year old son were to ask President Monson the same question. I would assume that the Prophet would say something like...

Go see your bishop and stake president. Send in your papers. Serve a worthy mission. Get an education. Prepare yourself for a worthy young lady and temple marriage. Have a family. Represent the Lord and the Church well. Accept callings and magnify your priesthood.

When we go to the temple we make covenants to invest more of ourselves in the kingdom of God. But that does not necessarily mean that men are to leave their families in the hands of the Lord while we spend an inordinate time doing our callings. We are not required to sit through uninspired meeting after meeting.

There are a couple scenarios that I can see happening in a uninspired meeting. Perhaps I personally am disconnected and uninspired. Or the meeting itself is uninspired. It is possible that we have uninspired meetings within the LDS church... If so it is our duty to call attention to the possibility that the meetings are repetitive or non-productive. Many will call it ark steadying and they may be correct. But I don't see it that way. I have sat through 2 hour meetings that could have been resolved in 30 minutes.

My primary duty is to my wife. I made covenants with her. We are sealed for eternity. My next duty is to my children. When each of them are married in the temple I will feel a great relief.

I cannot ever see the time when me making a difference in a non-family members life will compensate for a lost child.

[Irishcolleen]

Here is an opinion from an outsider. Take it or leave it. There is busy work connected to man-made goals and there is work for the kingdom of God. Don't confuse the two. Sometimes churches can get caught up in goals that focus more on church administration and "numbers". Frequently, these goals come at the expense of spiritual needs of the church. Remember the story of Martha and Mary. Jesus told Martha she was too busy with "serving", basically busy-ness. He told her that Mary was doing what is best- sitting at His feet focusing on Him. Ask, "is this activity busy work or is it sitting at the feet of the Lord?"