“In
Response to the Question: Why don’t we hear these issues raised today by the
Prophet, Apostles or Brethren on What President Benson spoke of in the 1950’s?
cji
2/14/13
Too
many in this day and age want to be directed in all things! This is not
the Lord’s way of doing business! Over the past roughly seven thousand years
there have been Prophets on this earth and world in which we live. Many have
been stoned and otherwise murdered and almost all with a couple exceptions have
been totally ignored. Peter in a letter to James spoke of one of the greatest
crimes against the Prophets and that is of changing or revising what they’ve
said! Over the past two thousand years this has always been the most effective
way for intellectuals to deal with the Prophets and the Scriptures. In Peter’s
letter he pointed out how the people had already revised what he has said –
while still alive what will they do after I’m dead?
Paul
called this to logismoi of the wisdom of men/women – where they think they know
more than the original text of what a Prophet has said or recorded. By the
middle of the 2nd Century AD – this was prevalent throughout the
known Christian world of the Europe, Asia, Middle East and Northern Africa.
Thus by the beginning of the 3rd Century AD – Neo-Platonism had
taken over and leaving about 5% of the Scriptures which is still mostly true
today in almost every school of divinity and or creed of the various churches
in operation today. The Bible (which I’ve repeated over and over again)
is to be taken literally is not!
Thus
there was an apostasy from the Church of Jesus Christ organized by the Savior
in the meridian of time. An apostasy has to come from within the organization
as it cannot come from without. Thus what Peter feared had happened – some deliberate
and other by the death of the Apostles and Prophets. (Note: this took place on
the European, Asian and African continents (including the Middle East. The
Churches the Savior organized in the America’s lasted until about 400AD with
the total destruction of those who were members. And finally those who lived on
the Islands of the Sea kept the organization until ‘discovered’ by those
pushing their own kind of religion.) This is documented in the Bible where the
Savior told the twelve Apostles he had other sheep to visit and feed. There is
documentation in a letter found from John to what this referred to – but has
never gained press or acknowledgement from mainstream religions. John asked the
Savior what he meant – and the Savior told him of those who’d left before the
captivity of 600BC and of the ten scattered tribes.
Thus
if something is already written in the Scriptures whether the Bible, Book of
Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and or spoken and recorded from a Prophet which
already deals with a subject then one need only to search, find, read and
understand. Why would a Modern Day Prophet or Apostle have to add to this? If
those who belong to the Church were paying attention to the Prophet and others
why would they have to repeat themselves? Over and over those leading the
Church in these latter-days have been expressing the love and the concern they
have for those in the Priesthood honoring and serving righteously! Those
Sister’s in the Relief Society doing the same! That our young people would remain
unspotted from the world! That all worthy members should have a Temple
Recommend! That all brothers and sisters would do their HT’ing and
VT’ing! That all would pay a full tithing and a generous Fast Offering
and Offerings! That all of the families in the Church would have a year’s
supply (of food and resources, strive to be debt free) and to help succor the
poor among us! Sadly less than 25-40% obey this direction of the Modern
Prophets of the Lord on this Earth today.
Thus
why should the Brethren waste their time on repeating what past Prophets and
Apostles have said? They’ve had to spend their time talking about the evils of
the world and how the membership should avoid them and how to accomplish this
avoidance. Yet, how many violate the Sabbath Day – watch inappropriate
material on TV or at the Movies? How many lie, steal, cheat, seek to be
entitled, and especially how many homes teach correct principles?
I’ve
been in meetings with several of the Apostles and three times with the 1st
Presidency over the years – the most repetitive thing I hear asked of them is
what new revelation is there? The best answer I can recall – from Elder
Boyd K. Packer – until the Saints start obeying and doing the ones already on
the table – who thinks they could endure more (this is a very poor
paraphrase). As well – most don’t study the Scriptures and therefore
haven’t much of a clue as to what they say – and all the Prophets today would
say the same things and Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nahum, John and many more.
I’ve
sat in meetings where worthy members almost argued with the General Authority –
I’ve heard members of leadership murmuring in the foyers after sessions of our
Stake Conference – those who need to toe the line are getter further and
further away from it. We’ve released leader who’ve no clue as to who
they’re supposed to be home teaching or visiting teaching. How many homes have
a regular Family Home Evening, or have daily family and individual prayer? How
many families (and this refers to single member families) read the Scriptures
daily?
Now for those members and
non-members who seek this information it is all there – whether from a talk by
President Benson – or Elder Witsoe or Elder Brown or Elder Calley – and the
list could go on without number. How many take the time to read the Old
Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon (Note: while many have called this a
book of the devil – none have every disproved it and most who deny it have
never read it) or prayed with a sincere heart and true intent and done all they
could do to seek truth? Surely James 1:5-8 means something and could be applied
by anyone who has prepared themselves to learn and discern truth. James 1: 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of
the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man
think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Many
of you know I’ve a library of over 1,000 talks either in print or cassette or
CD, in addition, a very comprehensive library related to the study of the Bible
and all other Scriptures which I can pick up and research and study to answer a
question or ponder a thought. However, now anyone with a bit of effort
can go on line and find talks from 40 to 60 years ago as well as complete books
and material to seek to learn and discern truth.
We’ve
been told when one is seeking they shall find – therefore the Brethren don’t
have to repeat over and over – all we have to do is look it up.
Don’t
ever for a second think about questioning what the Brethren need to say to us –
we are responsible for what they’ve already said and to learn more on our own.
Indeed we’re responsible for all that has been written in the name of the
Father and the Son – on our own and not through paying anyone to tell us what
they say. Whenever anyone receives money they will blend what they have to say
in the most pleasing way to get the most money. i.e. The reason Socrates was
made to drink the hemlock – because he refused to indulge in rhetoric but would
say the truth.
Over
time I’ve discussed that it is a slothful servant who needs to be taught,
counseled, and directed in all things. We’ve so much to do – with so few
participating – hugs and love in the Gospel of Jesus Christ – amen c/ork
“Wanting an Answer”
cji
2/14/13
Wearied and quite
drained
so many asking questions
yet so few hear the
answer
wanting an answer but
not;
Lessons of history all
forgot
all responsibility to
transfer
asking rhetorical
questions
with seriousness
feigned!
Copyright
© 2013 – cji
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