|
Joseph (& the Book of Mormon)
|
Brigham and the Brethrenites
|
The church
|
· Per D&C 10:67,
"whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my
church"
· Not an earthly
institution
· More a movement and
collection of like-believing individuals who gathered together with Joseph
· In the plural
referred to groups or congregations of believers
|
· "Church" referring to "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", a trademark
owned by The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints (COTPOTCOJCOLDS)
· Or: The
"Brethren" (upper ecclesiastical hierarchy, or "general
authorities"), that govern the spending of sacred funds, control who
receives "saving" ordinances, speak at general conference, manage
church corporations, direct those below them in the hierarchy, receive
generous compensation, etc.
· Or: an earthly
institution of people who have been baptized by an authorized LDS Aaronic
priesthood-holding male and confirmed by an authorized LDS Melchizedek
priesthood-holding male, whose names & private personal data are
maintained & tracked in a central Church database
|
Offices in the church
|
· Apostle, Elder,
Priest, Teacher, Deacon, Member
· Did not
require priesthood (see D&C 20, where it is not mentioned; or JS-H 1:72,
where Joseph and Oliver were elders after the restoration of the Aaronic
priesthood)
· Were able to
perform sacred rites outlined in D&C 20 according to the power of the
Holy Ghost in (i.e., acting through) a person
· Later: Bishop,
Seventy, Patriarch, Historian
· Some of the
apostles were later organized into the Traveling High Council, composed of 12
apostles, in 1835
|
· All but
"Member" (which is no longer a church office) is conflated with
requiring priesthood
· Many others
added: High Priest (as part of higher instead of lesser priesthood, as in BoM
& OT)
· Even offices
changed, for example Brigham swore anyone unmarried or less than mid-twenties
could never be a Deacon (which matches the New Testament requirement that
Deacons be married), whereas now Deacons are essentially all 12-year-old boys
|
Presiding Patriarch
|
· A lineal office in
the church first filled by Joseph Smith, Sr., then by Hyrum Smith by virtue
of having received the birthright
· Hyrum & Joseph
being the first (and last) in many generations to be joined to the Fathers via
the Patriarchal Order/Priesthood (see below)
· Office later filled
by lineage or descent of any descendent deemed "worthy"
· Could not be stolen
by an elected interloper, thereby creating a separation of power within
church government
· Formed an
independent line of priesthood authority
· This line was not
to be dependent upon selection by temporary office holders drawn from many
family lines--instead the Smith family, through whom the church was restored,
would hold this hereditary office forever
· Office was intended
to be succeeded by the officeholder's oldest, direct, descendant, unless
there was still a living sibling of his upon whom the office would devolve
|
· An
interesting office, sometimes used & sometimes not for ordaining the
office of President of the Church
· Title changed
to "Patriarch to the Church" by Pres. Grant in the 1920's
· Sustained as
"prophet, seer, and revelator" alongside the First Presidency and
twelve
· Most recent
"Presiding Patriarch" made "emeritus" by the President in
1979, with no one placed in the office to follow
· Last
"Presiding Patriarch", Eldred G. Smith, passed away in April 2013,
with the office no longer being filled or deemed necessary by the Church
|
Second Comforter
|
· Required for
salvation, redemption, and exaltation
· The core of the
"Doctrine of Christ" spelled out in the D&C, throughout the
Book of Mormon, and the New Testament
· Consistently urged
by Joseph as what all saints should strive to attain to in
mortality in order to be able to qualify for the Celestial sphere,
returning to the presence of the Father
|
· Not only no
longer taught as important, but now, per Dallin Oaks, “the suggestion that
this must happen in mortality is a familiar tactic of the adversary”
· Effectively
abandoned as doctrine until 1960's, then actively rejected by Correlation as
a topic not permissible for general conference talks, church publications,
etc.
· No longer
really spoken of at all
· More
important to "follow the prophet", not Christ
|
Book of Mormon
|
· A guide on how to
receive the Second Comforter, as shown by authors who actually have traveled
the path and reached the destination
· Text is more pure
than any other scripture now available
· A book of prophecy:
Events included are ones that typify actual prophesied events in the latter
days & end times
· Isaiah's words are
central to understanding the entire text
· Gentiles are primarily
the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who are roundly
criticized, condemned, warned & called to repentance by the text
|
· A moral guide
· How "to
be happy in this life"
· How to
"come unto Christ" in some unspecified, non-literal way
· Commonly
thought to somewhere foretell of a latter-day "Restoration" of a
New Testament church, this time among the Gentiles
· Thought to be
a witness to the authenticity of the Bible (though the text seems to state
the opposite)
· A tool to get
people to join the church, using the argument: the Book of Mormon is true,
therefore Joseph was a prophet, therefore the church is "true",
therefore we have a "living Prophet" today who has the same keys,
therefore you need to be baptized
· Much more
palatable as children's cartoons for those that have a hard time with it
· Big scholarly
emphasis on arguing & proving its historicity and on identifying the
location of events recorded, rather than focusing on uncovering and living its
message
· Inclusion of
quotes from the Book of Isaiah is annoying and, for some, reason to doubt the
authenticity of the BoM
· Reading is
something to check off as completed, often requiring business-inspired
incentive programs (food, rewards, fun trips to water parks, etc.) in order
to coerce participants to complete their "spiritual feast" on time
· Changed
title, misleading chapter headings, many strange computer-generated &
linked footnotes
|
Gentiles
|
· Primarily the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as spoken of in the Book of
Mormon and D&C
|
· Everyone but
members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the warnings in
the Book of Mormon being given to those who will never read them but which
will boost the pride of Latter-day Saints at "not being them"
|
Scripture
|
· Came regularly by
translation of ancient records
· Came regularly and
frequently via revelations/oracles
· Came regularly by
Joseph's own hand (letters, LoF in the 1835 D&C)
· Expanded &
extended the saints' understanding
· Given by the Holy
Ghost acting through any person
|
· Ceased
completely; no further "thus saith the Lord", except for a couple unpublished
ones claimed through John Taylor
· Changed to
instead use "official" proclamations, declarations, First Presidency
statements, general conference talks, press releases, "tweets", and
Facebook posts
|
Doctrine of the Church
|
· Published as the
first part of the 1835 Doctrine & Covenants
· Intended to
elucidate the "Doctrine of Jesus Christ", meaning the Second
Comforter
· Voted in general
conference by the church to be binding as scripture
|
· Removed from
"standard works" by committee in 1923, without any vote from the
church
· Current
D&C includes only the "Covenants" portion of the 1835 edition
(and later 19th century editions)
· Renamed
"Lectures on Faith"
· No longer
taught or discussed, including the Second Comforter
|
Nature of God, Godhead
|
(from
the 1835 D&C, called today the "Lectures on Faith")
· "The Father
[is] a personage of spirit, glory and power: possessing all perfection and
fulness."
· "The Son, who
was in the bosom of the Father, [is] a personage of tabernacle, made, or
fashioned like unto man, or being in the form and likeness of man, or,
rather, man was formed after his likeness, and in his image;--he is also the
express image and likeness of the personage of the Father: possessing all the
fulness of the Father, or, the same fulness with the Father; being begotten
of him"
· Holy Spirit: Not a
personage, but the "Mind of the Father and the Son", which men
& women must also receive, per LoF 5
§ "which mind
is the Holy Spirit, that bears record of the Father and the Son"
§ "Q. How many personages are there in the Godhead? A. Two: the Father
and the Son. (5:1.)"
§ "[the Son]
possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy
Spirit"
§ "all those who
keep his commandments shall grow up from grace to grace, and become heirs of
the heavenly kingdom, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ; possessing the
same mind, being transformed into the same image or likeness, even the
express image of him who fills all in all: being filled with the fulness of
his glory, and become one in him, even as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are
one
|
· God the
Father is a male personage with a glorified, resurrected body
· The Son is a
male personage with a glorified, resurrected body
· The Holy
Ghost is a male personage of spirit, not having a body
From
the 2013 publication Teaching the Gospel in the Savior's Way:
There
are three separate personages in the Godhead: God the Eternal Father; His Son,
Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost (see Articles of Faith 1:1; Acts 7:55–56).
The Father and the Son have tangible bodies of flesh and bone, and the Holy
Ghost is a personage of spirit (see D&C 130:22–23). Although the members
of the Godhead are distinct beings with distinct roles, they are one in
purpose. They are perfectly united in bringing to pass Heavenly Father’s
divine plan of salvation.
|
The Holy Ghost
|
· The Holy Ghost is our own spirit, sanctified and
connected to the Holy Spirit (the Mind of God)
· The Holy Ghost is a personage and an individual. It is a
Spirit that will dwell inside a person. (D&C
130:22)
§ Is the "record of heaven" which lives inside a
person and that the person lost contact
with because of the veil. It is a
personage of spirit who resides inside a person that he or she must
"receive" after baptism by finally listening to that inner
"truth of all things" or "record of the Father and the
Son." (Moses
6:61, 66)
§ "In effect, you receive holiness through the
sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. This in turn makes your own spirit
holy. Your spirit or your ghost is within you, connected to heaven to such a
degree through this process that you
are in possession of a "holy spirit" or a "holy ghost"
within you."
· "Falls" upon a person as part of an event
called the "Baptism of Fire and the Holy Ghost", creating a
permanent, lasting connection
· Bears record of the Son. When the Son speaks to a person
through the Holy Ghost, she or he hears the words in the first-person (thus
the HG speaking that it "is the Son" in Moses
5:9)
· "The Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence." (TPJS 149)
· Has a different effect on Hebrew vs. Gentile
§ "It is more powerful in expanding the mind,
enlightening the understanding, and storing the intellect with present
knowledge, of a man who is of the literal seed of Abraham, than one that is a
Gentile, though it may not have half as much visible effect upon the body;
for as the Holy Ghost falls upon one of the literal seed of Abraham, it is
calm and serene; and his whole soul and body are only exercised by the pure
spirit of intelligence; while the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is
to purge out the old blood, and make him actually of the seed of Abraham. That
man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new
creation by the Holy Ghost. In such a case, there may be more of a powerful
effect upon the body, and visible to the eye, than upon an Israelite, while
the Israelite at first might be far before the Gentile in pure
intelligence." (TPJS 149-150)
|
· A male spirit
personage of the Godhead
· His influence
is felt everywhere, although his spirit can only be in one place at a time
· Will someday
have to "get a body", although uncertain how or why
· Makes a
person feel good or "warm all over" when something is right or true
· Seen as the
source of powerful, strong emotions, commonly bringing a person to 'tears as
evidence of his presence
· Even when
“received” as a gift, is a temporary influence based on our choices
|
Baptism of Fire & the Holy Ghost, or Gift of the Holy Ghost
|
· Core part of the
Doctrine of Christ
· Controlled &
given only by the Father (through the Son) directly to a person
· Deemed synonymous
with repentance, baptism of the Spirit, a Mighty Change of Heart, etc.
· Accompanied by
other gifts of the Spirit, including prophecy, tongues, etc. and often by
interaction with angels
· Only Apostles
touched by Jesus Christ could confer directly (after mighty prayer and at the
Son's direction)
§ Per D&C 20
& BoM
· Otherwise came
directly from God to those qualifying, usually just after baptism though
sometimes “out of order” before (see Helaman 5)
|
· Almost
completely lost core doctrine, despite being plainly laid out (& often
read) in the Book of Mormon
· Taught to be
an undetectably gradual effect on a person
· Apostles play
no role
· Believed by
most to be immediately bestowed by Elders as part of "confirmation"
· Some believe
the person confirmed is only directed by the elder to do so (as current
"confirmation" wording suggests), then believing that it somehow
just comes to most or all members thereafter undetectably
· Taught that
the Holy Ghost is only present when we "do what is right"--not a
permanent connection
|
Authorization to Institute Rites & Doctrines and to Receive
Revelations for the church
|
· The Lord vouched
specifically for Joseph by revelation in D&C 5:10: "But this
generation shall have my word through you"
· Believed that
ordinances and doctrines established through Joseph, as "dispensation
head" should not and could not be altered in the slightest without
breaking the eternal covenant
· The Lord appointed
Hyrum as replacement prophet to the church in D&C 124, having also been
elected co-president with Joseph
|
· From Brigham
onward, presidents of the church considered the Lord's pronouncements
regarding Joseph to then be expanded & generalized such that they applied
to anyone occupying the "seat of Joseph"
· Commonly
believed to permit church presidents to make changes to ordinances and
doctrines "in the absence of revelation" and that this is why they
are so important(!)
· Hyrum’s role
as prophet to the Church and president are not acknowledged or honored
|
Prophets
|
· A gift from God,
known as having the spirit of prophecy, or as having "received the
testimony of Jesus" (Revelation 19:10)
· Regarded as
something all saints, male and female, should aspire to
receive/become--that is, to receive the gift of prophecy. I.e.,
to receive "the testimony of Jesus" per D&C 76, which is the
"spirit of prophecy"
· Per Numbers 11,
Moses desired that all his people would become prophets and prophetesses
("would that all men were prophets")
|
· Regarded as
an office, not a gift from God
· Brigham
Young: “I do not profess to be a Prophet. I never called myself so; but I
actually believe I am, because people are all the time telling me that I
am.” Journal of Discourses, 5:177
· Presidents of
the LDS Church have never claimed themselves to be prophets; it is always
others that claim such
|
Infallibility
|
· Considered fallible
and "only a prophet when speaking as such"
· Saints expected to
confirm truth of his words by the power of the Holy Ghost
· Joseph warned repeatedly
against reliance on a prophet, including sermons on Ezekiel 14
· Per Joseph, blind
obedience to such is "worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the
extreme"
|
· Brigham early
on expressed great fear that saints would blindly follow leaders without confirming
truth with God
· Today:
Considered effectively infallible
· Began with
Wilford Woodruff's 1898 unscriptural assertion in the manifesto press release:
"God will not permit me to lead the church astray"
· Statement
resulted from President Woodruff being so criticized by members for the
Manifesto (abandonment of what was taught to be required for exaltation) that
he defended himself by claiming that the Lord wouldn't let him make a mistake
on that order--said that the Lord just wouldn't let the church's president
lead the saints astray
· Any comments
or opinions are deemed immediately (without question or heavenly
confirmation) commandments of God, with no possibility of being
"commandments of men"
|
Status of the President of Church
|
· An administrative
and priestly office, a final arbitrator and judge, a presiding authority and
a leader whose words were to be considered carefully
· Elected by the body
of the church, not appointed
· Part of the First
Presidency, which was equal in authority with the Traveling High Council (the
Twelve), the Seventies, and Stake High Councils (D&C 107)
· Never once selected
co-presidents or counselors from the Traveling High Council (the Twelve)
during Joseph's lifetime
· Not regarded as
better/higher, more worthy, more "exaltable", flawless, or
deserving of accolades & adoration, God being no respecter of
persons (LoF 3:17)
· According to
D&C 76, not to be adored, "followed", or worshipped--those who do so inherit a Telestial kingdom
· According to 2
Nephi 28:31, such followers of men are cursed ("maketh flesh his
arm")
· Joseph actively
discouraged and preached against the error of elevating any man above
another, including and especially himself
|
· No one but
Joseph referred to as "the Prophet" until 1955
· Since then
church publications have aggrandized and encouraged adoration of the office
of President of the Church, referring to the office holder as "the
Prophet"
· Marked
beginning of Fourth-Phase Mormonism, where adoration of the
President/Prophet & the Brethren is a central practice, to the point
of perhaps being the only real remaining “Church doctrine”
· Change in
nomenclature done as a response to the immense unpopularity of Heber Grant
administration; church members then found it much harder to disregard a
"prophet of God" without risking damnation, resulting in dramatic
change in perceptions ("criticism is apostasy") & dramatically
reducing criticism
· Today:
"Follow the Prophet, Follow the Prophet, Follow the Prophet, Don't go
astray!"
· Declarations of
the president now considered to be more important than scripture (not
subject to scripture for validation of truth)
· Definition of
“prophet” now expanded to include all members of Quorum of the Twelve but
thought not possible to include any lay members of the church
· Now commonly
referred to as our "Beloved Prophet", a term reserved by God only
for use with his Only Begotten Son, in whom He is well pleased
|
Succession of President of church
|
· Always done by vote
· Not considered as
needing to be the same as the “prophet to the church”, which was considered
something that must be received from the Lord by revelation, then consented
to by the church ("by common consent")
· Hyrum was the
designated successor to Joseph as prophet to and head of the church (D&C
124)
· Had become church
prophet and Patriarch
· Was co-president
and co-testator with his younger brother, Joseph
· Brigham admitted
Hyrum was to be the successor in the succession debates
· But Hyrum fell
first, as he and his younger brother died martyrs
· Many in 1844,
including Brigham and Sydney, assumed that Joseph III would succeed Joseph
and that interim leadership would be temporary
|
· Today:
Dictated by the articles of incorporation of the corporation sole
"Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints": most senior member of quorum of twelve is entitled
to take control immediately on the death of the previous president
· Voting by the
church and ordination are considered as mere outward formalities that take
place after the fact
|
Aaronic Priesthood
|
· Never fully laid
out & explained by Joseph
· A brotherhood or
sisterhood that includes fellowship with angels
· Conferred by
authorized angels/servants ("true messengers"), as portrayed in the
temple endowment, not by men
· Ordination is only
an invitation to connect with heaven, but is incomplete of itself
|
· Definitions
created by men and evolved over time
§ E.g., at first
priesthood was believed not to be lost when leaving church, then was decided
it is lost when leaving church
§ Although in
practice, when a man is rebaptized today, he is not ordained again (i.e., his
priesthood is considered "inactive" after having left the church,
only needing to be switched back on when rejoining)
· Now:
Something you "hold" (like a sugar cookie) as opposed to something
you are part of
§ Can be given by one
man to another as directed by men who "hold" "keys"
§ Despite D&C
121, believed to be controlled by men, including making it
"inactive" when a person is excommunicated
§ Line of authority
concept is considered very important, since God & angels are not directly
involved
|
Melchizedek Priesthood
|
· Never fully laid
out & explained by Joseph
· A brotherhood or
sisterhood that includes fellowship with angels and the person of Jesus
Christ himself
· Conferred by Christ
himself and not man
· Done by Christ
Himself making an oath to the person after the recipient has been so
thoroughly proven, that God “will not repent” and remove the authority given
to the recipient
· Not required for
any church office, including elder, priest, teacher, or deacon. (D&C 20)
· No line of
authority needed; is between a man or woman and God himself
· Ordination is only
an invitation to connect with heaven, but is incomplete by itself
|
· Because not
laid out by Joseph, the definitions were created by men and evolved over time
· E.g.,
priesthood not lost when leaving church, then lost when leaving church
· Although when
a man is rebaptized today, he is not ordained again
· Now: Received
when a young man gets approval by a local congregation and some quorum leader
“confers” this priesthood
· Something you
"hold" (like a sugar cookie) as opposed to something you are part
of
· Can be given
by one man to another as directed by men who "hold keys"
· Can be
controlled by men, including making it "inactive" when a person is
excommunicated
· Line of
authority concept deemed very important
|
Fullness of the Priesthood, or Patriarchal Priesthood
|
· Restored early,
then lost
· A brotherhood or
sisterhood that includes fellowship with angels, the person of Jesus Christ
himself, and God the Father himself
· Jan 19, 1841:
· D&C
124:28: For there is not a place found on earth that he may come to and
restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away,
even the fulness of the priesthood [When was this lost fulness restored?
Where? To whom? How was it brought back? Any records, journals, scripture?]
· v. 31-32: But I
command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me; and I grant unto
you a sufficient time to build a house unto me; and during this time your
baptisms shall be acceptable unto me. But behold, at the end of this
appointment your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me;
and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment ye shall be
rejected as a church, with your dead, saith the Lord your God.
· v. 45: And if
my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom
I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they
shall not be moved out of their place.
|
· Later claimed
as having persisted despite D&C 124, despite incompletion of Nauvoo
temple, despite being driven from Nauvoo ("moved out of their
place"), despite no record or evidence whatsoever of its subsequent
restoration (no revelation, account, journal entries, etc.)
· Believed by
many to somehow be embodied in the temple ordinances
· Believed by
many to be lesser than the Melchizedek Priesthood
· E.g., Boyd
Packer recently taught in general conference that it is just a smaller part
of the priesthood LDS adult men already have--pertains to being married
· Sometimes
explicitly stated that the church does not have it when quoting D&C
107:1
|
Priesthood Keys
|
· Important knowledge
required to save a person that is considered part of the mysteries ( D&C
84:19)
· Received and
possessed by a person by virtue of God having given them and man having actually
done something with it
· Is the kind of
knowledge used to "unlock" understanding ("mysteries") or
other heavenly gifts
· One of several
things that those of the true priesthood (or order) declare, also including:
their dispensation, rights, honors, majesty & glory, and power of their
priesthood ( D&C
128:21)
|
· Some
metaphysical, intangible thing that gives the possessor authorization to
direct the actions of those below him in the church organization's male
hierarchy (i.e., "authority over" others)
· Considered to
be delegated authority to act & decide in God's place: worthiness,
eligibility for ordinances that exalt the person
· Includes:
· Ability to
direct & control what others do in their assigned duties or church
assignments ("callings")
· Directing
spending of sacred funds donated by church members
· Ability to
allow people into the church via baptism or forbid such
· Ability to
expel people from the church
· Mirrors the
Catholic tradition
· Contradicts
D&C 121 where such control is forbidden for those with priesthood
|
Priesthood Power
|
· Authority that
comes by virtue of true priesthood association/fellowship with the Powers
of Heaven, the operation of the Holy Ghost through a person, and the
precise alignment of one's own will with the will of Heaven
· Can be forfeited
instantly and very easily by offending or grieving the Powers of Heaven (per D&C
121:36-37)
|
· Available to
priesthood "holders" who have not committed sins classified as
serious
· Required to
perform "ordinances" (sacred rites)
· Gives the
"holder" authority to direct others (contrary to D&C
121:41)
|
Priesthood Ordination
|
· The giving of an
authoritative invitation to become part of a heavenly priesthood order, typically
by one who is already part of that order or fellowship
· From the original
meaning of "ordain": To appoint; to decree
· (See Oliver's
charge to the original Twelve in 1835)
|
· Now: The act
of "giving" a male the priesthood, done by one or more men laying
hands on another and "conferring" the priesthood, then
"ordaining" to an office "in" the priesthood
· For a period
of 20 years by the direction of President Grant, men were only
"ordained" to the office in the church/priesthood and
"conferral" of the priesthood was thought to be implicit
|
Powers of Heaven
|
· Heavenly beings
(angels), association with whom is an essential part of ascending back into
the presence of the Son and then Father
|
· Completely
incidental to LDS theology
· Levels are
unknown and unrecognized
· Any
interaction with such is regarded as questionable and likely evidence of
having been deceived
|
Temple rites
|
· Apparently
established in final days of Joseph's life in lieu of restoration of fullness
of priesthood, as symbolic of the actual process involving
angels, covenants, etc. in ascending back to the Father, having first
conversed with the Lord through the veil, and then passing through it
· Initiatory (washing
& anointing) was much more involved: vigorous washing with
cinnamon-flavored whiskey and anointing by pouring of large amounts of oil
over heads
|
· Modified
immediately after Joseph & Hyrum's deaths with the blood oath to avenge
them
· Later
modified many, many times by Brigham and others in the absence of
revelation on the matter. Too many to list, however two recent examples:
· In 1991,
removed penalties, removed the only mortal player (a preacher), and changed
the final sign. Also revised the lecture at the veil, removing the 5 points
of fellowship. Done as a result of public polling of saints who were
uncomfortable with parts of it.
· In 2005,
changed covenant making in endowment to be done in a seated position rather
than standing
· In 2005, changed
initiatory to be “symbolically” performed, by removing touching of the body
as part of initiatory. Also, began clothing of initiates with garment of the
priesthood before washing & anointing, then doing so
“symbolically” afterward.
|
Baptisms for the Dead
|
· Consisted only of
baptism for some specific dead:
· Those personally
known to the one doing the ordinance as someone who would have accepted the
truth had they been permitted to tarry, and they could bear personal
testimony of the character of the deceased
· Those persons who
left a record from which it could be judged they would have accepted the
truth had they tarried
o The same standard as the
first category, but the evaluation is based on their written record, rather
than the personal knowledge
· Those who, by
revelation, are known to be willing to accept the truth had they tarried
· Were only permitted
to be performed outside the Nauvoo temple for a short time
· If the Nauvoo
temple was not completed in the allotted time, the saints would be
"moved out of their place" ( D&C
124:45) and "[their] baptisms for [their] dead shall not be
acceptable unto me; and if you do not these things at the end of the
appointment ye shall be rejected as a church, with your dead, saith the Lord
your God." ( D&C
124:32)
|
· Evolved into
the modern practice of indiscriminate performance of ordinances for everyone
deceased, even those who were known to have rejected the gospel of Jesus
Christ outright or whose character was known to be ungodly
|
Temple garments
|
· Temple garment
created as a single piece of linen, from ankles to neck to wrists
· Marks made during
Initiatory by making cuts into the cloth ("cutting" a covenant, as
"making a covenant" literally translates to in Hebrew)
· Not worn 24x7
· After crossing the
river headed to Carthage where he would be martyred, Joseph directed that
those who had received the rites in the red brick store destroy their
garments
|
· Altered for
convenience of saints (as a result of their complaints of inconvenience),
raising bottom to knees, splitting across the middle into two garments (not
one; possibly unintentionally imitating the results of the second penalty),
raising sleeves to shoulder, dropping neckline significantly, changing
fabrics, and disallowing homemade garments
|
Commandments
|
· Directions given by
the Lord's own voice directly to a person
· Not given as
demands but by invitation & persuasion, easily ignorable
· Directions given by
the Lord through an authorized servant by revelation, particularly as
received by Joseph as dispensation head or as recorded in scripture
|
· Some of the
commandments given by the Lord in former days (as deemed still desirable),
and
· Ever-growing
list of outward rules, guidelines, and checklists introduced by church leaders
from Brigham up to the present which must be abided by in order to have
access to the power of God they are believed to control—“commandments of men”
· Includes
things like how many earrings are appropriate, what color dress shirts should
be worn by young men, a required part in the hair of male missionaries,
payment of "tithing" for temple entry, etc.
· Hard to
forget, because of how often they are repeated, checked, and measured
|
Obedience
|
· Expected by God to His
commandments only (see definition of "commandments" above)
|
· Expected by
the Brethren to their own commandments, traditions, and preferences,
which are commonly taken to be the measure of a person's "sustaining the
brethren" in their callings
· Many
formalized and distilled in the "Church Handbook of Instructions",
a corporate policy manual
· Often
measured and tracked using business-like indicators and reports
· Many such
"commandments" & traditions are, by definition, specific to
conservative US culture, regularly exhibiting Utah-specific quirks, such as veneration
of pioneers and reenactment of the divine curses they greatly suffered under
(“trek”)
|
Apostles
|
· Ordained as
directed by God through revelation
· Charged by Oliver
Cowdery in 1835 that their "ordination [was] not complete" until revived
under hand of God himself
· Charged with
teaching & baptizing throughout the world
|
· A church
office, appointed by the President of the Church & perfunctorily approved
by church vote of "common consent"
· No longer
charged with "completing one's ordination" by having God himself
lay hands on the man (since Reed Smoot in 1900)
· No longer any
evidence of being chosen by revelation
· Emphasis on
managerial skills, worldly financial security, amount of tithing paid, &
business acumen
· Derived
almost exclusively from the proud posterity of Nauvoo-era saints
|
Mysteries
|
· Joseph encouraged
saints to seek out the mysteries, including receiving angels (or
"servants", as they are most often referred to in the scriptures)
· Taught to heed Book
of Mormon counsel & direction to seek out the mysteries.
· 1 Nephi 10:19:
"For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God
shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these
times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come;
wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round."
|
· Actively
discouraged and frowned upon
· “I have come
to believe also that it is not wise to continually talk of unusual spiritual
experiences.” (Ensign, January, 1983)
|
Angels
|
· Key part of the
Plan of Redemption, who, as "servants", help prepare a person to
receive the person of Jesus Christ (the Second Comforter).
· Per the Book of
Mormon, are received by those of a "firm mind". (Moroni 7:30)
· Key part of path to
Christ & salvation, as demonstrated in the lives of Saul, Joseph, Alma,
Moses, Peter, Mary, Elizabeth, Agabus, and John.
|
· Any such
accounts looked on with high suspicion of having been deceived (a
reaction I directly observed in the mission field)
· Hugh Nibley's
description of his grandfather, a member of the First Presidency, who said
that if he ever saw an angel he would "jump out the window."
|
Miracles
|
· Speaking in
tongues, miraculous healings, even raising from the dead were not uncommon
· Were the primary
motivation for many joining the church (not the First Vision account or the Book
of Mormon)
|
· Almost
unheard of today and rarely discussed when they do happen
· An
uncomfortable topic when they rarely do occur
· Members
prefer they happen at a distance--in time or space--or not at all
|
Prophesying
|
· A gift from God
("prophet")
· Something accepted
as normal and encouraged
· A gift highly
sought after
|
· Now: No
prophecy ever given by the Brethren
· First
Presidency and Twelve are sustained & voted to be "prophets",
despite no evidence of such a gift
· Frowned upon
by members of the Church and considered problematic
· Alternative
reliance on scholars and scholarly approaches to finding "wisdom"
|
Seership
|
· A gift from God ("seer")
that is greater than prophecy
· Possession &
use of seer stones by Joseph
· Also possessed and
used by some other members
|
· Now: First
Presidency and Twelve are sustained & voted to be "seers",
despite no evidence of such a gift
· Seer stones still
possessed and used by some into early Utah era (e.g., locating a stolen cow,
etc.)
· No longer
claimed to be used for "seeing"/scrying
|
Revelations
|
· A gift from God
("revelator")
· Joseph produced
many revelations, given as spoken by God in the first person
|
· Now: No
revelations given by the Brethren
· First
Presidency and Twelve are sustained & voted to be "revelators",
despite no evidence of such a gift
· Policy
changes often spoken of in private as "revelations" or received via
a "revelatory process"
· 1978 granting
of priesthood to Blacks
· Proclamation
on the Family (Boyd Packer referred to it as revelation in general conference
only to have the written transcript changed to remove the designation later)
· 2012 change
in age for missionary service
|
Translation of ancient records
|
· A gift from God
("translator")
· Done regularly by
Joseph: Book of Mormon, New & Old Testaments, Book of Abraham
|
· No additional
translation of any ancient records, even when requested & given
opportunity
|
Ordinances
|
· Considered to be
unchangeable from what was given through Joseph
· Part of the
covenant from God that must be remembered and not broken
|
· Deemed
changeable as desired and "in the absence of revelation" by the
Brethren, with neither explanation required nor vote from the body of the
church needed
|
Sacrament
|
· Wine used, although
"it mattereth not" was permitted
· An apostle or elder
blessed, administered, and "passed" it, per the pattern in D&C
20:38,40,46,50 and 3 Nephi
18:3-9, with the oldest priest covering only
if an apostle or elder were absent
· Person offering
prayer knelt and prayed with uplifted hands
· Congregation knelt while
prayer offered
· Generous portions
of bread & wine used ("until filled"), as in a meal
· Single cup used for
the wine
|
· Wine
continued to be used through the late 1800's
· Church
established wineries in Southern Utah that served congregations in Idaho,
Utah, and Arizona
· Now: Water
used
· Wording of both
ordinance's prayers changed: “hath”
instead of “had” in the first, and “water” instead of "wine" in the
second
· Administered
("passed") by teachers and deacons, who are forbidden from
participating in
D&C 20:58
· Person
praying is only person kneeling, usually with hands clasped low or arms
folded
· Congregation
does not kneel
· Tiny pieces
of bread used to optimize distribution for large congregations
· Many small,
disposable plastic cups used for water
|
Common Consent
|
· Voting in both the
affirmative and negative for church offices was normal an acceptable, often
even involving friendly discussion about it before a vote was taken
· Was no concept of a
"retro-active" vote to sustain "ordaining" of someone to
a church office
|
· Voting in
meetings to "sustain" people in church offices is, in practice,
purely a formality: members are strongly expected to vote in the affirmative
· Negative
votes are almost completely unheard of
· Normal
procedure for negative votes purportedly is to ignore it and then have a
"leader" confront the negative voter in private after the meeting
to determine if there is some reason that they can deem valid for the
person's objection
· Negative
votes commonly result in punishment, such as removal of temple recommends,
etc.
· Social morays
in this area are very strong, where objecting to a proposed officer would be
perceived as "not sustaining" one's leaders
· "Priesthood"
ordination is regularly done in advance of a vote by the church
· As of October
2014, sustaining is now expected to be taken as "an oath-like
indication" of fealty to the president of the Church
|
Meetinghouses
|
· No meetinghouses
built or used for meetings, except for Kirtland temple
· Meetings held in
the homes of the people or outdoors
· Nauvoo's
"bowery" was according to the original definition of the word
("a shady place; a natural shady or leafy shelter in a wood or
garden"), not the later definition as used in Utah settlements. (the
first structure put up in a new community in order to have a temporary place
for worship and other kinds of meetings, including school, until permanent
facilities could be built) See here
for more details.
|
· Built
everywhere, often extremely luxurious, ornate, and expensive, in fulfillment
of 2
Nephi 28:13
· Build
according to protestant standards, including elaborate & impressive
sounding pipe organs, elevated seats for "leaders", crosses (at
least in 19th century LDS churches), etc.
|
Church Meetings
|
· No formal structure
to meetings, but conducted by "the workings of the Spirit, and by the
power of the Holy Ghost … whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to
supplicate, or to sing" "according to the commandments and
revelations of God" ( Moroni 6:9)
· Informal, smaller
gatherings where the sacrament was partaken of (most often, during the week)
· Not structured in
advance
· Preaching done from
the scriptures, as moved upon by the Holy Ghost
|
· Highly
structured, business-like meetings, identical in form from one week to the
next. Include formal agendas, printed and distributed to attendees
· Church
officers presiding are always seated on an elevated stand in specific seats
of honor and acknowledged as such
· Speakers
stand at an elevated stand having a microphone that loudly projects his or
her voice to attendees, commonly with two spotlights trained on the pulpit to
provide added luster, stage presence, and overall effect
· Conducted
according to strict structure and list of rules, as dictated by the “Church
Handbook of Instructions”
· Topics,
order, who is involved, and music are all carefully determined in advance by
the deliberation of the ward bishopric (sometimes delegated entirely to a
single person)
· Formalization
of each program is normally put into printed form so the arriving congregation
knows exactly what will happen in advance
· Preaching
often done by reading or summarizing as a basis, in fulfillment of Isaiah’s
portrayal ( Isaiah 29:13)
|
Sabbath Observance
|
· Weekday activities
set aside to allow the person to wholly focus on the Lord
· No checklists used
and no required Sunday meeting attendance
|
· Expected
attendance at block meetings in order to be considered "active"; "inactive"
members are considered in spiritual peril
· Professional
business attire for men (suit, tie, leather shoes) and fancy dress (jewelry,
shoes) for women is expected as necessary in order to properly worship and
reverence God
· "Reverence"
is preeminent in meetings, which is used to mean: silence and obedience to
superiors, particularly among children, where it is commonly enforced or
coerced through use of candies
· Extremely
rigid schedule and elements in meetings, with often quite repetitive wording
and business-like agendas
|
Calling
|
· A person's work to
perform, as revealed by God Himself to the person
|
· An assignment
in the church, whether scriptural or not, to be performed according to Church
Handbook of Instructions (CHI) rules & procedures and as directed by
those holding "keys"
· Repeatedly
taught to be something to accept without question to show proper deference to
and “faith” in leaders
· Formerly
referred to as a "office", though "office" now refers to
a male's "place within the priesthood"
|
Tithing
|
· Established by the
Lord (D&C 119) after the saints failed to live the United Order
· Those joining the
church gave one tenth of all their possessions at the time they joined (paid
in kind)
· Then gave one tenth
of their surplus, or profit, at the end of each year
thereafter (paid in kind)
· I.e., after
obligations & necessities had been taken care of
|
· Members are
taught to pay one tenth of their gross income
· I.e., before
taxes and anything else
· "Do you
want gross blessings or net blessings?"
· Members
taught to do so even if it means not having enough to buy food for their
families
· "Full
tithe" payment is a requirement for entry into the temple, which members
believe is the only place they can access essential "saving"
ordinances that give them access to the highest blessings of God
|
Word of Wisdom
|
· Explicitly stated
by the Lord not to be "by commandment or by constraint"
· As given to Joseph
in D&C 89, actually allows for beer (v. 17) and wine (v. 5), among other
things
· Hot drinks being
understood to mean either very hot in temperature, or the same as
"strong drinks": distilled alcoholic drinks like whiskey, vodka,
gin, etc.
· Joseph having
regularly enjoyed wine (as the night before his murder) and beer (see original,
unredacted DHC, June 1, 1844 entry)
|
· Is a
requirement (a "constraint") for baptism or entry to the temple
· Is now
interpreted as meaning all alcohol in any amount is forbidden (began
in 1920's, during Prohibition)
· "Hot
drinks" now changed to mean coffee and tea and, commonly, anything
having caffeine
· Meat is no
longer considered something that need be used "sparingly", the
saints commonly participating in "meat-loving" American culture, despite
Lorenzo Snow teaching this as the most critical part
|
Polygamy
|
· Something Joseph
Smith very actively, very vocally, and publicly decried and fought against in
Nauvoo
· Had multiple people
brought before the Nauvoo high council to be tried for attempting to practice
& teach polygamy
· In the 1835
D&C, voted to be considered scripture by the church, it included a
since-removed section 101 declaring polygamy to be a whoredom
· The Book of Mormon
equating polygamy to a whoredom
· Joseph’s journal
entries noting his public preaching against polygamy later doctored &
rewritten to portray him preaching in favor of it, as now revealed in JS
Papers
· Joseph’s private
practice of sealing women and men to himself later being altered in the
historical record to suggest marriage, though DNA testing now confirms that no
lines of offspring from sexual relations resulted
|
· Practiced
broadly & publicly in latter-half of 1800's starting with Brigham Young
· Considered an
absolute requirement for exaltation
· Practiced
with goal of producing children (though Brigham only had 51 with his 55
wives)
· Begun in the
absence of revelation "to the Lord's people"
· Included practice
of Brigham Young openly taking still-married women from their husbands,
sealing them to himself, and then fathering children by them
· Discontinued
at turn of century as a direct result of governmental pressure and without
any recorded revelation
· Then
considered an excommunicable offense
· Still
believed & taught by modern Mormons to be a true principle
|
Temple Sealings
|
· Only performed by
the Prophet Joseph, though not in a temple
· Promise of eternal
union based on conditions
· Must be sealed by
the Holy Spirit of Promise, which was in Joseph (but not controlled by men)
· Performed after a
couple had been married for some time
|
· Performed by
any "sealer" whom the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve have
delegated "keys" to (are "authorized")
· Regarded by
most church members as automatically guaranteeing eternal union
· Was
"families can be together forever", now is "families are
forever"
· Considered
shameful or disgraceful when a sealing does not happen at the same time as a
couple's wedding
|
Sealing Power
|
· A gift from God
only entrusted to his most loyal children ( Helaman
10:5-10; D&C 132:47), allowing
the person, in precise accordance with God's will, both to bind on earth and
in heaven
· Given only directly
by the mouth of the Lord himself to the person, pronounced in the presence of
the angelic hosts of heaven
|
· A power
handed from one man down to another, effectively fully delegated to men on
earth to manage & control (per 2 Nephi 28:5)
· Believed to be
governed, directed, and controlled by the President of the Church
· Once believed
to only be useable by the President of the Church, now believed to be
"delegatable" two levels: to the twelve and from them again to
"sealers" in temples, but such that it cannot be given again to
others without permission from the President of the Church
|
Sealing
|
· A sacred rite where
a person is "sealed" to a Father, such as our dispensation head
(Joseph) by that person, having received the sealing power from the mouth of
God himself in the presence of the angelic hosts of heaven
· Apparently permits
the "sealer" to "bring" those sealed to him with him on
the fiery ascent back through the heavens to where God dwells
· Also related to
bringing the "children" back into a covenantal relationship with
"the Fathers", such that they can be redeemed by virtue of the
relationship with a "vassal king"
· Not used to
link a person to his/her unsaved dead ancestors, who are not in heaven
but remain unexalted in the Spirit World instead
|
· Once in Utah,
the practice until the late 1800's was to "seal" people to the
dispensation head (known as "Law of Adoption"), Joseph, not to each
other or genealogical lines
· Now: a rite
used to "seal" or link a person to his/her spouse, children, or
dead, unsaved ancestors in the Spirit World, performed by one holding delegated,
corporate-directed LDS sealing power (see above), only available to persons
conforming to modern Mormon evolved definitions of tithing and the Word of
Wisdom
|
Marriage
|
· Always performed in
public according to direction in section 101 of the 1835 edition of the
D&C (removed sinc)
· Considered a
"sacrament", thus marriage feasts included consumption of alcoholic
wine (as in John 2 and D&C 89:5)
|
· Removed
section 101 in 1835 edition from D&C when plural marriage began being
publicly practiced in Utah to allow for privacy of plural marriages from
suspected government spies
· Now: Normally
takes place in private within temples where only adults deemed
"worthy" are permitted
· All members
taught from childhood they should settle for nothing less and allow no one
"unworthy" to do so
|
Black/Negro Race
|
· Not taught to be regarded
as any different than any other "race" of man, Joseph Smith having campaigned
for the liberation of black slaves by payment of “owners”, which would have
prevented the American civil war
· Black males
ordained to priesthood, like Elijah Abel
|
· Deemed &
taught, starting with Brigham Young, as descendants of Cain and unable,
therefore, to obtain priesthood in this life, having been unvaliant in the
life heretofore
· Decided in
the absence of any recorded revelation
· Both male AND
female blacks denied all temple ordinances deemed essential to eternal life,
not permitting initiatory, endowments, or eternal marriage
|
Prayer Circle / True Order of Prayer
|
· Practiced in both
homes and in temples
· Was expectation of
divine manifestations when practiced
|
· Long taught
to patrons in temples, so the instructions could be followed privately in
homes, in ward and stake leadership meetings (meetinghouses not uncommonly
having had altars in special rooms for this purpose), etc.
· Banned from
practice in homes & meetinghouses in 1978 by Spencer Kimball, thereafter
only temple ordinance workers being permitted to perform it within temples
· Unclear why temple
goers are still instructed in how to do so at all since it is not a permitted
practice
|
The Remnant / Lamanites
|
· A group of
descendants of Lehi desperately sought in order to preach to them the
"fulness of the gospel"
· First people
missionaries were directed to find
· Search continued
despite US government's attempts to block, clear up until Joseph &
Hyrum's deaths
· Expected to be
found in the "Rocky Mountains"
· Regarded as the
group that will build the earthly New Jerusalem, allowing for the heavenly
City of Enoch to return as part of the Second Coming ( 3 Nephi 21:22-24)
· Expected to be
"assisted" by "a few" Gentiles that repent
|
· An
interesting historical footnote no longer relevant to the progress of
"the kingdom of God"
|
The United States
|
· A Gentile nation
destined for destruction prior to the Second Coming ( D&C
87:6, Isaiah
19), having fallen away from its God-directed beginnings
|
· The Lord's
nation, which will serve as a vehicle to save other nations
· Its existence
will "hang by a thread" only to be rescued by the Church and
proceed to some glorious, nebulous role in ushering in the millennium
|
Church Discipline
|
· Always locally
conducted
· Only available
penalty was excommunication (removal from the congregation)
· Conducted according
to strict guidelines given in the revelations of D&C (D&C 20:80, 42)
and the Book of Mormon (Alma 42:15-22), including requiring:
· Offended parties to
first approach the offender and attempt to be reconciled before bringing the
matter before church authorities
· Multiple witnesses
of known integrity to bring forth the accusation of the unrepented offense
· Restrictions on the
origin of information that may be used for any trial
· Use of Elder's
Courts in advance of high council hearings
· Defenders of the
accused in every case, but not a requirement for prosecutors
· Multiple levels of
appeals and rehearings to address the possibility of biased or erroneous
judgment
· Measures preventing
judges from rendering verdicts without majority agreement from a high council
· Measures preventing
an accuser from sitting in judgment against the accused
· The accused and
their defenders to always be granted the last word, so any true words of
defense of the innocent will ring out over the words of accusation
· Involving the
congregation with excommunication (vote of agreement, public rebuke before
them, etc.)
|
· Now:
· Conducted
according to continually changing, often vague guidelines in the secret
corporate guidebook (CHI Vol. 1)
· Can result in
varying levels of penalties including informal probation, formal probation,
"disfellowshipment", and excommunication
· Uses
different public vs. private definitions for apostasy
· Great
latitude taken by stake presidents regarding following even the CHI
instructions
· Normally
initiated by a leader after a private confession of a member, thought to be
part of reconciling oneself with God (no other witnesses as accusers)
· Commonly
initiated or conducted by local leaders as directed by general authorities,
including coming to conclusions as directed
· Commonly put
the stake president in the role of plaintiff/accuser, detective, prosecution,
defense, witness, jury, and judge, compromising any possibility of fairness
by eliminating all checks and balances
· Regularly
excommunicate for purported apostasy without telling the accused what he or
she has allegedly incorrectly taught
· Vote taken by
the high council has no bearing on the decision but is merely symbolic and
seen as a demonstration of loyalty to the stake president's decision
· Elder's
Courts are completely unknown
· Proceedings
of councils resulting in excommunication are kept secret, allowing
non-participants always to suppose that "there must be more to the
story" whenever a claim is made of unjust accusation or judgment
|
Zion
|
· A Terrestrial
society of those able to withstand the presence of Christ himself (having
already individually received the Second Comforter)
· Do not suffer to
have any poor among them
· Are of "one
heart & one mind", as a result of "possessing the same mind
with the Father, which mind is the Holy Spirit" (LoF 5:2)
· Also referred to as
the "f of God on the Earth", required to be in place in order for
the "Kingdom of Heaven" to return ( D&C
65:6)
· As a city, to be
established in the "tops of the mountains", not in a valley
· Believed to be destined
for the Rocky Mountains
|
· Now: A
synonym for the church as a whole, where "all is well!"
· Historically
(per Brigham and successors), Utah
· Also,
historically, the Lord's Bank
· Somehow
different than the New Jerusalem (despite the 10th Article of Faith)
|
Kingdom of God
|
· According to
Christ:
· Is not of this
world--not an earthly, Telestial kingdom (John 18:36)
· Cannot be observed
by mortal man (Luke 17:20)
· Is within you (Luke
17:21)
· Must be "set
up on earth" in order for the Lord and "Zion above" to descend
(D&C 65:5)
· Is intended to be a
kingdom of kingdoms, with a King of kings and Lord of lords, as hinted at in
the LDS Endowment
o Men and women are
intended to rise up, enter into God's presence, and made "kings and
queens, priests and priestesses" to Him
o Just as Joseph and Emma
were made a king and queen in the presence of the Council of 50, after Joseph
turned the church over to Hyrum to be its president, Hyrum having replaced
Joseph as the church's head (D&C 124
·
|
· Evolving
meaning:
· The Council
of 50 (referred to in shorthand as "the kingdom")
· In the 19th
century, an earthly, political kingdom, under the
presidency/reign/governorship of Brigham Young and those governed by him
o Brigham having had
himself made an earthly king by the Council of 50
· In the 20th
century, the LDS Church
|
Role of Women
|
· Considered by the
Lord to be very important
· As evidenced by
women being the first to receive the Second Comforter and the twelve being
chastised for not believing their report
· Considered to be
destined to become part of a matriarchal priesthood as part of her ascent
· Prophetesses
regarded as normal and expected anciently (Miriam, Elizabeth, Anna) and in
modern times (Eliza Snow)
Commonly
laid hands on other women and children to heal by their faith in the Lord
|
· Now: May hold
certain positions in the church, and do as directed by priesthood superiors
· Relief
Society no longer has autonomy organizationally and financially
· Not even
permitted to hold church offices not believed to "require
priesthood", such as Sunday school presidencies
|
Personal Testimony
|
· An inner spiritual
witness of truth received from God by the Holy Ghost
· Results from
earnestly seeking truth
· Requires asking,
seeking, knocking
· Given on the Lord's
time, not man's
|
· A conviction
to be gained by repetitively stating something is true before audiences,
thereby conditioning the mind to accept and believe whatever is presented is,
in actuality, true
· This
technique used particularly with those preparing to serve proselytizing
missions for the Church who may harbor doubts or who may lack what they feel
is sufficient knowledge of what they will be daily claiming to others is true
· Sometimes
alternately taught that it comes from reading the scriptures and other
literature and then praying to God about it
|
Repentance, Confession, & Forgiveness
|
· Repentance is simply turning away from the sin &
confessing to God (D&C 58:43)
· Confession to God is required, directly and in private,
for all sins, then, when asked for forgiveness, He forgives almost all sins
immediately (D&C
64:3-7)
· If applicable, confession is further required only to
the "offended party" (person), in private, who has been
offended, hurt, or damaged by our sins (D&C
42:88,92)
· Public confession required, if public sin (e.g., Alma,
Jr.)
· Only when a sinner refuses to repent, offering no
confession of guilt to the party offended, are the ecclesiastical authorities
to be informed of the sin
· Considered innocent until proven guilty
· Requires testimonies of 2 or more bona fide witnesses,
having personal knowledge of the unrepented sins in question, 2 of which must
be trustworthy LDS
· Must know sin is not confessed & not forsaken
· Confession of repented sins to
ecclesiastical leaders unscriptural and therefore was not practiced
|
· Repentance is a multi-step "process" that takes
some time
· Confession is expected to a ward's bishop for sexual
sins, lapses with the Word of Wisdom, serious crimes, and abortion, whether
the person has confessed them to the Lord or not
· Believed that the Lord cannot forgive a person of these
unless and until they are first confessed to a bishop
· The bishop determines what the person must do to
"sufficiently" repent and when he or she can be forgiven and is thus
believed to be able to control who can receive forgiveness from the Lord
· Sometimes teach there is a distinction between the Lord
forgiving a person and "the Church" doing so
|
