February 13, 2013

“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?

“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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