Changed my mind about watching conference

[oliver_denom]

I haven't watched the last two conferences and so far I've suffered no ill effects. Still, I've changed my mind about watching this one.

The church has been on pause for several years now as Monson battled with his illness, and I'm curious about the direction is about to take for the next little while. My most recent experience with hearing talks from traveling seventy and area authorities leads me to believe that we are about to double and triple down on orthodoxy and the traditional "faith promoting" narrative of Mormonism.

Basically:

• Church is a literal kingdom and its leaders have the same authority as actual monarchs
• The church is the only true church on earth, meaning the only one that god himself authorizes.
• Because of the above facts, our primary concern should be obedience to the brethren
• The scriptures are literal history and cannot be taken any other way
• The ordinances and commandments are literal directions from god for which there are no subjective or personal interpretations
• Reading, discussing, or promoting uncorrelated histories or doctrines is unequivocal apostasy

It would be fascinating to see Nelson turn the church away from even one of these items. That's what I'm interested in, any sort of movement away, because I hope that I'm wrong. It would be upsetting to see the church become more fundamentalist, not just for the people who stay, but for the future. A smaller church is an even more fundamentalist church, and a harder shift in that direction will lead to a loss of even more members. If they start turning the screws on the inactive, then they'll get more resignations. I don't think anyone wants to see the church turn into an even deeper pit of despair.

So this is my bingo card, then items I'll be looking for and checking off. After this conference though, there will be no need to check in again until the next president comes along. This weekend will be the mission statement and the rest of Nelson's reign will be his attempt to see it through.

[Corsair]

That's a good list, Oliver. The changing of the guard will be interesting to watch. This is combined with an assumption that based on physical age alone there will be another change of the guard in the next few years. Ironically, I had a believer complain that the testimony of 85 year old Joseph Bishop might not be trustworthy. But in the next breath, he stated that 93 year old Russell Nelson was the perfect leader of the church.

I'm more than a little annoyed with myself for my ongoing interest in the main topics of LDS general conference. But, as long as I am still living with active, believing Mormons I figure I should know what the Mormons I love will be thinking about in the next six months.

[RubinHighlander]

• Church is a literal kingdom and its leaders have the same authority as actual monarchs
• The church is the only true church on earth, meaning the only one that god himself authorizes.
• Because of the above facts, our primary concern should be obedience to the brethren
• The scriptures are literal history and cannot be taken any other way
• The ordinances and commandments are literal directions from god for which there are no subjective or personal interpretations
• Reading, discussing, or promoting uncorrelated histories or doctrines is unequivocal apostasy

If this list proves accurate, keep a close eye on RMN's talks and see how directly he testifies of the truth claims. As the new CEO of the corporation, I'm betting RMN is under the same McKonkie and McKonkie legal rules as TSM was: no more direct testimony of truth claims because of the liability. Sure all his underlings can say those things, but the CEO?

[Phil Lurkerman]

Let us know how it goes. As for me and my house, we shall watch something else.

[slavereeno]

Things have been progressing a little for DW and I, this conference we are not requiring anybody to watch all (or any) of conference. When I talked about it, my 14 yo DD was shocked and hurt that I suggested that conference watching was optional. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, I think in YW they have been hammering the whole "listen to prophets and apostles" thing pretty hard the past month or two.

[oliver_denom]

Things have been progressing a little for DW and I, this conference we are not requiring anybody to watch all (or any) of conference. When I talked about it, my 14 yo DD was shocked and hurt that I suggested that conference watching was optional. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, I think in YW they have been hammering the whole "listen to prophets and apostles" thing pretty hard the past month or two.

People are getting psyched up for it because it is historic. There have only been 17 presidents of the church, and we are getting two new kings ordained to their earthly thrones, so that's a big deal. But as far as the content of anything they say is concerned, there won't be anything new.

[1smartdodog]

I have seen more than one new prophet. Nothing ever really happens. A new policy or program. Some good some bad. But is always the same old church. I don’t think there is any bend in those at the top.

[oliver_denom]

• Church is a literal kingdom and its leaders have the same authority as actual monarchs
• The church is the only true church on earth, meaning the only one that god himself authorizes.
• Because of the above facts, our primary concern should be obedience to the brethren

Ballard hit all of those points, but these were the most prominent. Leaders aren't perfect, but the nature of their callings still require them to be followed.

[BlackMormon]

This is old stuff. I don't believe, the new generation and future generations will no longer heed to these patriarchal or orthodox approaches and belief that a bunch of geriatric men lead people to God. However, I must admit that the current structure does provide some level of comfort, help and hope to those that need a structured system to follow in order to make sense out of life and life's purposes. The money involved in all of this will still continue to flow to the top. It's part of the business. Had Christ not admonished his disciples to go on and preach the same Gospel to all the world and instructed others to to go and do likewise, we probably would not have had all these churches throughout history.

The interesting fact about the LDS church and others like it, is that they follow the creation of patriarchal legacies, pretty much like the Freemasons and the order of the Illuminati. At the end of the day, money flows to the top elite. I am not sure whether this is what Christ had in mind when He was here.

[AdmiralHoldo]

The word 'interregnum' is literally used to describe the term between one *monarch* and the next. Latin roots FTW!