Page 1 of 2
Cadre of Hardcore Believers
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:54 pm
by _moksha
I constantly hear that we need to obey and submit to the words of the leaders of the Church. I hear this in Church and from some ardent posters on this board. President Ezra Taft Benson put it this way:
It is well that our people understand this principle, so they will not be misled by those apostates within the Church who have not yet repented or been cut off. But there is a cleansing coming. The Lord says that his vengeance shall be poured out “upon the inhabitants of the earth. . . . And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord; First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me. . . .” (D&C 112:24-26.). I look forward to that cleansing; its need within the Church is becoming increasingly apparent.
The Lord strengthened the faith of the early apostles by pointing out Judas as a traitor, even before this apostle had completed his iniquitous work. So also in our day the Lord has told us of the tares within the wheat that will eventually be hewn down when they are fully ripe. But until they are hewn down, they will be with us, amongst us…
I am uncertain if this will mean that Nehor's Danite band will rise up and smite those of us who think for ourselves, or that the Church might decide on widespead excommunications till they have whittled the membership down to a sufficiently obedient million, or that this was merely rhetoric to let off a little steam from pent up anger and self doubt.
In any case, what is up with this huge desire for lockstep conformity?
.
Re: Cadre of Hardcore Believers
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:04 pm
by _asbestosman
moksha wrote:In any case, what is up with this huge desire for lockstep conformity?
"if ye are not one ye are not mine." -- God as quoted in D&C 38:27
If God has called these men to guide us, then I would think it makes logical sense to heed their words as God's words.
Re: Cadre of Hardcore Believers
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:54 pm
by _Inconceivable
ET was an ultra conservative member of the John Birch Society. He took the scriptures literally. He saw black and white.
ET also said many times that 3 Nephi paralleled our time (see Witness and a Warning). If that is the case, the weeding out was a catastrophic violence akin to the Great Flood.
3 Nephi gives the account of the The Prince of Peace (Jesus Christ) destroying many American cities and slaughtering 10's of thousands of men, women and children by burning, suffocating, crushing and drowning his victims. He accomplished all of this between the time of his death and resurrection - He didn't forgive them for what they did like he did the viscious Roman soldiers that crucified Him.
But maybe of course ET might have been talking about mass excommunications. I seriously doubt if this were to happen. Historically, the hierarchy prefers to make public examples out of a notable few to push everyone back into lock step.
Re: Cadre of Hardcore Believers
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:16 pm
by _The Nehor
The scriptures seem to indicate that the Earth will be cleansed prior to the Second Coming in stages. It starts with the Church being cleansed first. We are due for something that will scare off or cause the apostasy of our half-arsed members.
Re: Cadre of Hardcore Believers
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:38 pm
by _Buckeye
Notice the new testament doesn't mention the quorum of the twelve taking up arms against Judas. They merely left him to his own demise. So too in our day. We have only to keep the flock pure. Let the wicked destroy the wicked.
Re: Cadre of Hardcore Believers
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:26 am
by _collegeterrace
The Nehor wrote:The scriptures seem to indicate that the Earth will be cleansed prior to the Second Coming in stages. It starts with the Church being cleansed first. We are due for something that will scare off or cause the apostasy of our half-arsed members.
As well as those who are old and not married.
WCHJD
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:55 am
by _ludwigm
.. the new testament doesn't mention the quorum of the twelve taking up arms against Judas ...
What Could Have Jesus Done - without Judas the obedient?
Should have he denounce himself to Caiaphas or Pilate??
Judas simply obeyed the
command: "
That thou doest, do quickly". (John 13:27)
Probably, they have negotiated it before.
The other disciples didn't know what is all about: "
Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him". (John 13:28)
Re: Cadre of Hardcore Believers
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:31 pm
by _The Nehor
collegeterrace wrote:The Nehor wrote:The scriptures seem to indicate that the Earth will be cleansed prior to the Second Coming in stages. It starts with the Church being cleansed first. We are due for something that will scare off or cause the apostasy of our half-arsed members.
As well as those who are old and not married.
I missed that passage. Know where to find it?
Sorry, I don't trust your encyclopedic knowledge of my faith.
Re: Cadre of Hardcore Believers
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:29 am
by _ajax18
Maybe Ezra Taft Benson was talking about his grandson Steve?
Re: Cadre of Hardcore Believers
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:04 pm
by _Inconceivable
ajax18 wrote:Maybe Ezra Taft Benson was talking about his grandson Steve?
Some of my former far right wing Mormon aquointances saw him (SB) as a hardcore liberal when he was a member - a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Interesting that they weren't too fond of Hinkley either. I recall one postulating that perhaps some of the brethren were conspiring to keep ET from presiding while during his presidency - that perhaps his failing health was intentional to keep him from conveying the Lord's word against the former Soviet Union, gays, abortion etc.
When ET began to fail in his health, he stopped attending general conference. Every once in a while he would get a little better and give some extremely difficult instruction from God over the pulpit (for example,
To the fathers/mothers in Israel talks).
I don't think Hinkley would have ever given those talks.