Great Lesson

[BriansThoughtMirror]

Apparently, this is today's Priesthood/RS lesson:

https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of ... h?lang=eng

I could nitpick this, but I think it's fantastic! Hinckley seems to be honestly pleading for kindness, tolerance, and respect for people of any religious or philosophical persuasion. I really enjoyed reading it, and I think it will bring up some great discussions. Full disclosure, I'm not there right now (I hit Sacrament meeting a couple times a month and I almost never got to those classes), but I hope it's a good one. I saw the lesson mentioned on the BCC blog, which is often fascinating. I haven't read their article yet.

Cheers!
Brian

[Palerider]

Having read the lesson, I've heard and read some of these comments by Hinkley before. So no surprise in the content.

It just comes across as somewhat "tin horn". He goes on about not being arrogant or boastful but we live with this statement by Joseph Smith:
"I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam... Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.”

But he didn’t choose the above statement to demonstrate how humble and willing Joseph was towards all people and their diverse views on religion, he cherry picked another.

When he says, "You bring with you such truth as you have and let us see if we can add to it.” the implication is always that "you come to us" we don't go to you. We are counseled to be kind and personable to others and we appreciate what truth they may have and what moral standards they may have but still in the end they are seen as "lacking" and "less than". That quiet undercurrent of arrogance is still there just below the surface and it is what drives the AGENDA rather than kindness being shown for it's own sake. Brotherhood should be sought because it is right rather than because it will get us where we want to go. They think it will get Mormonism accepted as mainstream.

What leadership doesn't realize is that they will NEVER be accepted as long as they practice a form of leadership worship. They rely on and even adore the "arm of flesh" and they can't even see it because of their blindness. They strain at gnats while swallowing camels.

Sorry to rain on your parade...

[BriansThoughtMirror]

Palerider, I agree with all your points. However, in a believing Mormon context, this lesson is pretty darn ecumenical. It's about as tolerant as it can be while still maintaining a belief in the unique rightness of Mormonism. So, I think it's a win. I know at least some true believers who really live the sort of philosophy Hinckley is talking about, so maybe if there are more lessons like this it could nudge the Mormon community toward being more tolerant. In any case, I think the message, if taken at face value, is great.

EDIT- This would be especially true if members extend this way of thinking to ex-members and unorthodox believers, which may or may not happen.

[Palerider]

I agree.

Taken at face value it's a step in the right direction. And I'm sure many members will receive it gladly as when the thoughts were first proffered when Hinkley was still alive.

I remember thinking at the time he was being quite magnanimous. I hope for all the believing members sakes that the church can continue to evolve into something more honest and Christlike.

[Give It Time]

Sometime, when I feel brave enough, I would like to tell members to view us, disaffected, as being of another faith, because we essentially are.

If viewed in that light, I cross my fingers that we wouldn't be perceived as lazy, thin-skinned sinners, but as President Hinckley describes the people of faiths other than LDS.

[Palerider]

Sometime, when I feel brave enough, I would like to tell members to view us, disaffected, as being of another faith, because we essentially are.

If viewed in that light, I cross my fingers that we wouldn't be perceived as lazy, thin-skinned sinners, but as President Hinckley describes the people of faiths other than LDS.

Yep....Pretty tough to see those who have had so much "truth" given to them and then still reject it, as the same thing as an unknowing gentile who never knew the truth.

We are immediately branded as trouble making malcontents that deserve to be shunned.

The reality is they are afraid of us.

And as those who are willing to utter the words, "The emporer has no clothes".....they SHOULD be afraid of us.

[Give It Time]

Sometime, when I feel brave enough, I would like to tell members to view us, disaffected, as being of another faith, because we essentially are.

If viewed in that light, I cross my fingers that we wouldn't be perceived as lazy, thin-skinned sinners, but as President Hinckley describes the people of faiths other than LDS.

Yep....Pretty tough to see those who have had so much "truth" given to them and then still reject it, as the same thing as an unknowing gentile who never knew the truth.

We are immediately branded as trouble making malcontents that deserve to be shunned.

The reality is they are afraid of us.

And as those who are willing to utter the words, "The emporer has no clothes".....they SHOULD be afraid of us.

Got that right.

[BriansThoughtMirror]

Sometime, when I feel brave enough, I would like to tell members to view us, disaffected, as being of another faith, because we essentially are.

I never thought of doing that! Has it had positive results for you? Mormonism has a very generous theology in regards to people of other faiths (that is, they have some truth and are likely good people, and they have a decent shot at the CK). If only it were as generous to heretics and the faithless.

[Give It Time]

Sometime, when I feel brave enough, I would like to tell members to view us, disaffected, as being of another faith, because we essentially are.

I never thought of doing that! Has it had positive results for you? Mormonism has a very generous theology in regards to people of other faiths (that is, they have some truth and are likely good people, and they have a decent shot at the CK). If only it were as generous to heretics and the faithless.

I haven't mustered the courage, yet.

[BriansThoughtMirror]

I haven't mustered the courage, yet.

If I do, I'll post here about it. I think it's a great idea. Unfortunately, opportunities for a comment like that almost never come up, since most discussion about non-believers happens only among the believers.

[Give It Time]

I haven't mustered the courage, yet.

If I do, I'll post here about it. I think it's a great idea. Unfortunately, opportunities for a comment like that almost never come up, since most discussion about non-believers happens only among the believers.

It would be good to know how it went.