NOM

Salt Lake Tribune, Jan. 30, 2015: "I know the history of the Church is not to seek apologies (ask for repentance?! ) or to give them."-- President Dallin Oaks.
Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man that he should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent: hath he said and will he not do? or hath he spoken and will he not make it good?"

From the quotes above, and in the context of its teachings, it could be argued that the Church is mistaken by some members and leaders to be a god, perhaps THE god who is worthy of worship. The prime evidence is that both all truth and/or doctrines are subjected to the question- will it build up, defend, or protect the Church/kingdom of god?

Psalms 135:15-16, 18 "The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths but they speak not; eyes have they, but they hear not... They that make them are like unto them. So is every one that trusteth in them."

For an organization that is a corporation, doesn't it make sense that it could be compared to idols of old, that is, that it is the work of men's hands?
I've said this before in other ways and places, but I believe it is the crux of the matter of facing organized religion.


Catholics tend to worship their church, Protestants tend to worship the Bible, or their interpretation of it. Muslims apparently worship both their 'prophet' and their Quoran, and some of them justify execution of those who would profane them. It seems to me that Jesus was too wise to institute a "kingdom of this world." But I could be wrong.

My dad literally worshipped the church and the brethren were God. FULL STOP.

The church speaks for god and acts on his behalf. Since God is actually invisible and silent, it is pretty easy to replace god with the church, which is visible, physical, and vocal. The church demands your obedience, your time and talents, and your will. It asks you to dissolve your boundaries to allow it full access to everything you are.

My experience as a member was that god and the church are basically the same. My current spiritual beliefs tell me that God/ Spirit/ Universe/ Source/ Higher Self (whatever) is nothing like the mormon god. In fact, if I believed in Stan, I would say the church leans more that way.

Freefallin
My experience as a member was that god and the church are basically the same. My current spiritual beliefs tell me that God/ Spirit/ Universe/ Source/ Higher Self (whatever) is nothing like the mormon god. In fact, if I believed in Stan, I would say the church leans more that way.

After all, they really are to the point to where they can buy anything in this world with their money...

If your choice came down to worshipping Ezra Taft Benson, Donald Trump, or a Golden Calf, I would say go with the Golden Calf because it at least does not espouse evil. Too political? Okay, leave out the calf.

Another thought. Brigham Young had an "Abrahamic Test" when he tampered with the juries of John Lee's first and second trials. (See: Blood of the Prophets by Will Bagley. John Lee was Brigham's adopted son.) It seems very likely that he did this because 1) The LDS Church's (Brigham's god) image was threatened by the "not guilty" verdict of the first trial, so John Lee or somebody needed to serve as a scapegoat, and 2) the prosecutors very likely made a deal not to go after Brigham Young if he guaranteed them a "guilty" verdict.