Radical LDS?

[Hemidakota]

Just wondering on how much you can fit within a group if your views are a little outside of the box.

How do church stakes manage this and how do people fit in while being a tad different without sacrificing cohesion? What are the limits and where is the line drawn?

Your stories and testimonies please.

There is a unique branch in the church, which is unlike no other and most likely maybe never again.

In this branch, there is the normal three presiding branch figure heads but this branch has additional 12 councilors, and three meeting houses. Each individual are High-Priest and have limited authority and powers over the presiding transit membership.

Only one individual, whom holds the key for discernment and other important authoritarian decision making, in a regular branch, this is the branch president. Now, when the load begins to pile up as to the many souls who seek repentance, they will need to have some quality time with the branch president. Noting the time span for each member and being a transit branch, this will help the masses. Remember Moses and when the load began to piling up and his father-in-law Jethro, helped him to relieve that load?

Seeing this was a problem, the issue was raised from one of the presiding branch councilor in the branch presidency with delegating this key to the other two councilors. The branch president was reluctant to do so, being a form stake president; meanwhile souls are being lost. When approach the local assigned stake presidency, this issue was raised again to an higher authority. Same response was given. The councilor noted the problems and feeling frustrated on what's considered a normal church organizational structure and whom is granted this key, went and asked the Lord himself.

Did the Lord respond? Within two months later, cleared through the First Presidency, there was changed to the branch presidency in having the same keys among the three, yet the presiding president is still main voice and authority.

[Elphaba]

There is a unique branch in the church, which is unlike no other and most likely maybe never again.

Hi Hemidakota,

I'm trying to see if I understand this correctly. Are you saying there are three branches who are under the stewardship of only one branch president? And that each branch has the three members of the bishopric but also an additional four high priests who serve as councilors? You said they have limited authority and powers, but I'm not sure what you mean by that. Can you give an example? I'm not being sarcastic. I just have never heard of an example like yours.

Did the Lord respond? Within two months later, cleared through the First Presidency, there was changed to the branch presidency in having the same keys among the three, yet the presiding president is still main voice and authority.

I'm not sure what you are saying here. You mentioned "souls being lost." Has something changed, even though there is still only one branch president.

Again, I'm just trying to understand how this is working, as I have never heard of branch(es) organized this way.

Thanks,

Elphaba

[Hemidakota]

The Branch is a transit type organization - not the usual branch or ward. The Branch has three meetinghouses that span over 75-miles distance, which is zone through 7 stake area. Each meeting house has a councilor representing from the Branch Presidency that supervises the meeting as if he was the bishop. [Humor] So in essence, the Branch Presidency is comprise of three bishops with equal keys with the exception of the Branch President has the final authority. Each meetinghouse has one or more councilor to support the councilor. The largest meetinghouse may have 6--10 councilors. Each councilor is an ordained High Priest. Now, the branch is comprised of military membership, which rotates every 12-week to 20-weeks.

By limited authority, the Branch President has the final word or authority. They have the key of discernment and have the authority to council members on personal issues - same as a bishop. Also, they can interview for Temple and callings for Elders.

The first councilor, located in another meetinghouse seen a problem with military members could not clear up some personal problems without going through the Branch President. The Branch President was overloaded in trying to help whom he could on Sunday. The rest that could not be seen just eventually gave up. It was the initiative or probably the spirit talking in telling the President to make a change base on what was transpiring like Moses felt when he was the only one could solve personal issues.

This is a beta branch setup that the church is closely monitoring and one of the stakes is involve with. Hopefully that helps.

[WANDERER]

Hemidakota, I admit to not understanding your post..but following Elphy's post I think you are saying that church structure can change to administer needs?

[Hemidakota]

Yes. Though, it required a stake president and then, the First Presidency to do so. I am amazed how the Spirit prompts people.

[Elphaba]

Hemidakota, I admit to not understanding your post..but following Elphy's post I think you are saying that church structure can change to administer needs?

Hi Wanderer,

I think what has happened with Hemidakota's branch is extremely innovative and obviously works very well for them. I am extremely impressed with their ability to work out and apply the solutions.

To any bishops, counselors, etc., out there: Hemi explained why there was a need for such an unorthodox organization in his branches. However, I have never heard of the Church making such accommodations before.

I feel compelled to tell Wanderer what Hemi's branch did is far from the norm, and the vast majority of the Church is organized in stakes, and wards, (branches). But perhaps I'm wrong about that.

Does anyone know more information about this? I think it's interesting.

Thanks,

Elphaba

[Ray A]

Does anyone know more information about this? I think it's interesting.

I haven't heard of this either, but I'm not involved these days anyway. What Hemi seems to describe is a variation of a District. Usually there needs to be five branches to form a district, so three would be too small. The branch presidency has to be accountable to someone, usually the Mission President. So the line of authority would look something like this:

Area Authority (top)

Mission President

District President

Branch President.

But under Hemi's description it seems to be:

Area Authority

Mission President

Branch President.

Or, perhaps:

Area Authority

Branch President. (Though I think this unlikely)

The innovation would be the exclusion of a District President, since there are only three branches, not enough to form a district. The accountability line is still intact, however, as the branch president still has to answer to someone. The high turnover of military personnel would be the reason for this structure, I imagine.

[Hemidakota]

The Branch President is under one of the local area stakes. There is still involvement from the Miltiary Committee at church hq.

[JLFuller]

If personal happiness and joy is what you want then how to achieve it should be the goal, or so it seems to me. I think you will find greater happiness in where to go rather than where not to go. If I may suggest, satisfaction with who you are and how you fit into the ways of God will best be discovered with following the prophets. Read the scriptures daily, follow the commandments and work to achieve the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. Of course there are the obvious dangers presented by such things such as pornography, illicit drugs, substance abuse, deviant sexual practices for the married couples and absense of chastity for the unmarried. These things work for members and non-members too. If you don't quite fit the profile you might want to do a reality check to see how your current thinking is working for you. If you still have a hole in your middle, it might be time for a paradigm shift.

I am not sure what you meant when you said you were a bit different, but being a bit different places you squarely in the middle of the membership of the church. Less than half the members are white Angle-Saxon North Americans. We even let a few Democrats in the front door but we keep an eye on them. I think I heard that Conference was broadcast in 109 different languages. One of the fastest growing areas in the Church is South America. This link takes you to a map of where the Church has temples. LDS (Mormon) Temples World Map. A temple isn't built until there is suffient membership to make use of it. That is usually 50,000 active members or more.

I acknowledge that non-members will have some difficulty with following people they are not sure are real prophets of God but the principles they talk about work for everyone. They are universal. Almost all of the questions we human beings have about who we are, why we are here and where we are going can be answered by the close relationship and the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. The question then becomes how to achieve it. I have to think that given your wandering by the LDS forum and participating in it, something has struck a spark inside you. It sounds like the Holy Ghost may be at work. If you have never attended an LDS Sunday worship service, or it has been ages since you were last in church, I urge you to go. Just put on your Sunday best and show up. You will likely be greated by a member of the bishopric or a similar ward or branch leader. Tell them you are a visitor and just want to sit and listen. If you like what you see and feel, go back the next week. Even if you have body piercings, green hair and tatoos, I think you find some comfort there. You might want to dress so you don't cause too much of disturbance in the congregation and interrupt the reverant spirit though. We are a pretty conservative bunch when it comes to appearance.

If you aren't quite ready for Sunday School and Sacrament meeting, just call the bishop, branch president or stake president and ask to meet with him privately. You don't have to be a member. Go in, introduce yourself and talk. Just kind of let it out. Talk about what ever you want. You will eventually get around to meat of the subject. As often as not he will pick up on what you really want to talk about before you get to it. You may not even know what you want tot talk about but the Holy Ghost does and he will whisper it to the bishop after a while. It works if you really want it to.

[Hemidakota]

Just wondering on how much you can fit within a group if your views are a little outside of the box.

How do church stakes manage this and how do people fit in while being a tad different without sacrificing cohesion? What are the limits and where is the line drawn?

Your stories and testimonies please.

It depends on what is outside of the mainstream of the church. I can tell you stories of General Authorities, including Prophets who 'DO KNOW' more about the eternalties that is not being taught for various reasons. They will only either hint on the subject or told to stick with the basics. This goes back to Saints...are they ready? If not, the Godhead will only give this information to those who are ready to hear it.

Even the Prophet Joseph Smith would be considered outside of the mainstream of the church.

[Aphrodite]

WANDERER,

I think what basically happens is all down to the individuals who run the church. So for example, what one Bishop might deem aceptable and a non-issue might have another Bishop running for the hills is horror. Ive heard some bishops who wont allow people to baptise their kids if they dont pay tithing, yet other bishops would not even think it was relevant. This can be applied to many issues, so there isn't really a cut and dried answer. Its all dependant on what local leaders deem acceptable. So that can be confusing to some members as the 'doctrine' differs from ward to ward.

We had a bishop in our neighbouring ward who was so cool. He was so solid and down to earth, he recognised church 'cliques' and cultures and even did impressions of some of the more 'holy' members. He was such a laugh and a GREAT bishop. (And only 28!) He would have allowed a lot more freedom of choice in interpretation of belief than many bishops I know. He also took the p out of himself, as he had 6 kids by the age of 28. He would say, man, i know. I ONLY have six!!! Im going to burn in hell!!! Other Bishops, may take that LITERALLY.

I hope that answers some of your questions. xx

[Fiannan]

When I saw the thread title I imagined Mormon terrorism. LDS freedom fighters! The Radical LDS! Mormon jihadism! I must confess I was bummed to see the real topic.

-a-train

You may enjoy this:D

[Hemidakota]

Have you serve in the intelligence field? If you have, then you would know the real difference between fanatics and true believers of GOD. Even Islam have faithful followers who do not murder others in the name of Allah.

[a-train]

Unfortunately right now, it has become convenient and perhaps necessary for some to portray Muslims as radical suicide killers. I think this will ultimately pass for the most part, but not until the masses find another scapegoat.

-a-train