Sunday, November 2, 2014

LDS Church Titles Against Christ's Teachings?

And [the scribes and pharisees; church leaders of the day] love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi,Rabbi.
 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Does the tradition of giving status and stature (calling another man anything but brother) through titles within the church draw us closer to Christ or not?  How so?  Why do we feel comfortable calling the most important individual in our lives simply by his given name, Jesus, but would consider calling someone of position by their first name some kind of offense?
If we must look to the opinions of men on the matter, what would Brother Joseph and Brother Brigham think of today's customs?  Brother Tom sounds sacrilegious to most of today's members who would insist on calling him President Thomas S. Monson.  Why? 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Mormons Join Their Persecutors

Let’s recap what’s happened around marriage:
  • Early LDS chose to live in a way different than the "one-man-one-woman" U.S custom.
  • The U.S. government and its Christian majority came down hard on them - in God's name.
  • LDS argued it was their Constitutional right and didn't appreciate mainstream Christians forcing their views on them through government.
  • LDS lost the battle and were forced to abandon the practice.
  • LDS now join their persecutors in limiting the choices of others.  
The irony kills me. 

I’m no fan of polygamy, but early LDS argued it was a constitutional abuse to shut it down among consenting adults (and I agree).  They were forced to abandon the practice contrary to their wishes and the dictates of their conscious.  Now, many of their posterity have jumped sides, in God's name no less, to bully others using many of the same old arguments to defend the idea politicians should be able to dictate what a family looks like and which moral code is to be pushed by the feds.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

DO LDS ROB THE POOR?

2nd Nephi 28:13

13 They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up.

Do I even feel anything for the poor?  What does that say about me?  Do I think more about acquiring "stuff" (my own sanctuary) or in serving the poor?  Is my "fast offerings" each month enough to check the poor off the list or will I be accountable for how I allocate my other resources?  Is the above scripture aimed at Latter Day Saints - or just the other Christians?