Discussions toward a better understanding of LDS doctrine, history, and culture. Discussion of Christianity, religion, and faith in general is welcome.
Some of you probably got this in your email today from the church:
President Monson called the study of the Book of Mormon and the application of its teachings in our lives a "critical need" in these troubled times. Six months later, the invitation from the prophet remains the same.
Do members see this as a prophetic commandment from the mouthpiece of God?
What makes the reading of the Book of Mormon critical right now, and what do you think would be our supposed fate if we did not read the Book of Mormon this year? Will these times be made less troubled by the reading of the Book of Mormon, or can the reading of it actually protects us from the trouble?
These are hypothetical questions, of course. I'm just trying to unravel the intended message.
“The easy confidence with which I know another man's religion is folly teaches me to suspect that my own is also.” -Mark Twain
Jesus: "The Kingdom of God is within you." The Buddha: "Be your own light."
Hagoth wrote: ↑Thu Oct 05, 2017 6:33 pm
Some of you probably got this in your email today from the church:
President Monson called the study of the Book of Mormon and the application of its teachings in our lives a "critical need" in these troubled times. Six months later, the invitation from the prophet remains the same.
Do members see this as a prophetic commandment from the mouthpiece of God? Yes
What makes the reading of the Book of Mormon critical right now, and what do you think would be our supposed fate if we did not read the Book of Mormon this year? It's about retaining membership. It's the church's critical need, not necessarily the members'
Will these times be made less troubled by the reading of the Book of Mormon, or can the reading of it actually protects us from the trouble? I don't know. It's been a tough day. Oh Hell, why not?
These are hypothetical questions, of course. I'm just trying to unravel the intended message. I'll report back as to how far I got/how well it went.
One question, were we told to read it prayerfully or just read it?
At 70 years-old, my older self would tell my younger self to use the words, "f*ck off" much more frequently. --Helen Mirren
The imperative goal of reading the BoM cover to cover by year end comes up every few years. If you don't get around to it this year wait a year or so and there will be another goal to read the BoM by year end. I've read the book enough times, thanks. I'll imperatively wait till the next time, or the time after that, or the time after that.
It's just another goal in the world of goals of Mormonism. It gives the leaders something to lecture the sheep about and it gives the sheep self satisfaction to raise their hand in Sunday School and say, "When I was reading the BoM like president Monson has asked us, I came across this passage..."
Oh no. I got up on the cynical side of the bed again this morning. I really should move the bed away from the wall.
We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.
– Anais Nin
Most of what the leaders tell us to do consumes time and produces little benefit. It just another mechanism to tie you to the church and make you believe you can not live without it.
A real challenge would be to not read the scriptures for a year or go to church and see how different your life is.
“Five percent of the people think; ten percent of the people think they think; and the other eighty-five percent would rather die than think.”
― Thomas A. Edison
Just once, just once......I would like to hear an emphasis on reading the New Testament. Like, "we need to learn more about what Jesus would do, so read the Gospels" or "at this time of year let's all read Luke and Matthew."
God is Love. God is Truth. The greatest problem with organized religion is that the organization becomes god, rather than a means of serving God.
deacon blues wrote: ↑Fri Oct 06, 2017 8:37 am
Just once, just once......I would like to hear an emphasis on reading the New Testament. Like, "we need to learn more about what Jesus would do, so read the Gospels" or "at this time of year let's all read Luke and Matthew."
That wouldn't create a differentiation between the Mormon Church and the others, which are all wrong. They all have the NT. Only the Mormon Church has the BoM. What would be the need of Mormon Church leaders in that case?
"Close your eyes, for your eyes will only tell the truth,
And the truth isn't what you want to see" (Charles Hart, "The Music of the Night")
deacon blues wrote: ↑Fri Oct 06, 2017 8:37 am
Just once, just once......I would like to hear an emphasis on reading the New Testament. Like, "we need to learn more about what Jesus would do, so read the Gospels" or "at this time of year let's all read Luke and Matthew."
That wouldn't create a differentiation between the Mormon Church and the others, which are all wrong. They all have the NT. Only the Mormon Church has the BoM. What would be the need of Mormon Church leaders in that case?
I agree. This is not about learning anything from the Book of Mormon, it's about performing a daily act of devotion to the church. When they say reading the BoM will bring you closer to Christ, is that really what they mean? Most of the book is adventure tales and war stories. Does that really bring you closer to Christ? The answer is yes, if the word Christ is a synonym for Church, as it often is in conference talks, along with words like God, Gospel and Spirit. In that way, reading the BoM daily is a process for controlling your time to keep you more attached to Christ (i.e. the church).
It doesn't seem to me that the emphasis is on learning, but on commitment. The goals are always things like chapters-per-day or daily reading, rather than insights about things like how the BoM relates to modern LDS worship. The last time I read the BoM it was with the intent of really understanding what it is and what it says. That was also what finally broke my testimony.
“The easy confidence with which I know another man's religion is folly teaches me to suspect that my own is also.” -Mark Twain
Jesus: "The Kingdom of God is within you." The Buddha: "Be your own light."
deacon blues wrote: ↑Fri Oct 06, 2017 8:37 am
Just once, just once......I would like to hear an emphasis on reading the New Testament. Like, "we need to learn more about what Jesus would do, so read the Gospels" or "at this time of year let's all read Luke and Matthew."
This!
At 70 years-old, my older self would tell my younger self to use the words, "f*ck off" much more frequently. --Helen Mirren
Emower wrote: ↑Thu Oct 05, 2017 8:30 pm
I think of all the promises that you will draw closer to Christ as you read it. Troubled times = need to be closer to Christ = read the BOM.
I agree with Emower. I think they really believe that times are bad, and reading the BOM will help people get through. My TBM relatives would probably see this the same way. I see no bad intent here, but they do make the request all the time, and it makes it hard to get to anything else.
Hagoth wrote: ↑Fri Oct 06, 2017 1:03 pm but on commitment. The goals are always things like chapters-per-day or daily reading, rather than insights about things like how the BoM relates to modern LDS worship.
Nor how the BOM helps us be better people or better disciples.
