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May I propose a prize, or at least a recognition to those who seem to trip over or hang up on some of the minor issues in this church? It could be an actual physical thing, such as a small bit of window screening. We could call it "The gnat-strainer Prize" (Matt. 23: 24), for those who let their faith be shaken by such trivia as Joseph Smith peeping into a stone in a hat, or President Uchtdorf claiming Guatemalans are children of Lehi. To save "Mormon Discussions" the trouble and expense of postage, we could just keep these bits of screen at your office, and those awarded the prize could drop by and pick them up. I'm sure they have lots of spare time on their hands. And, you know, you gotta think; did Christ use that metaphor because He knew there would be "gnats" arising, at least in the immature minds of those wrestling with the complexities of an eternal gospel?

LOL!

Please can you provide a list of issues you consider non gnat-straining?

I would like to nominate Why Me's attempt to argue the "face just above the hat" vs "face in the hat" description for this prestigious award.

Drifting wrote:LOL!

Please can you provide a list of issues you consider non gnat-straining?

I concur. We need a list of what are "minor" and major issues.

I would say that racism, sexism and unhealthy teachings on sexuality are major issues.

I would say that how many earrings a person wears and tattoo's are a minor issue.

What say you?

Major issues are Joseph Smith's polygamy, blood atonement, racial folklore, unhealthy teaching on sexuality, and Book of Abraham. Once a person gets bitter and decides they hate the church then they might have a tendancy to start straining at gnats just for entertainment but those are not the real issues in their minds.

Zelder wrote:Major issues are Joseph Smith's polygamy, blood atonement, racial folklore, unhealthy teaching on sexuality, and Book of Abraham. Once a person gets bitter and decides they hate the church then they might have a tendancy to start straining at gnats just for entertainment but those are not the real issues in their minds.

I think this is pretty accurate, although I would throw out the word "bitter" and "hate." What also happens (in my mind anyway) is that some people go through a systematic breaking down of their belief system. So, whenever they come across another element to dissect it is one more straw on the camel's back, so to speak.

Death by a thousand cuts.

Is the Church's treatment of its own history and controversies helpful in overcoming gnat straining or does the whitewashing and obfuscation actually propagate it amongst members with questions?

For example. Members who 'gnat strain' on the subject of how the Church uses funds could be helped in overcoming this problem by simply publishing the facts. The fact that they don't encourages people to question why they don't.

just me wrote:I think this is pretty accurate, although I would throw out the word "bitter" and "hate." What also happens (in my mind anyway) is that some people go through a systematic breaking down of their belief system. So, whenever they come across another element to dissect it is one more straw on the camel's back, so to speak.

Death by a thousand cuts.

That makes sense.

I would like to nominate myself for this award for straining at the gnat of why it is that lengthy passages of the King James Version of the New Testament appear in the Book of Mormon.

This gnat is only slightly larger than the gnat of why lengthy passages of the King James Version of the Old Testament appear in the Book of Mormon.

In fact, this gnat is so big, it is approaching the size of an elephant.

An elephant that has taken up residence in the living room.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri