DiscussMormonism.com

Has anyone been following the latest Jeffs news? Apparently he's pretty much confessed that he's not the prophet. Yet how will the members of the FLDS take this? Will they just give up on their faith? Will they recognize it for what it is? Will they just leave the church, and say, 'woops, no biggie'?

I just find the whole scenario fascinating.

Here's a link to the story at the SL trib.

An interesting bit on how the FLDS faithful are handling it:

Several FLDS faithful are questioning the veracity of the reports, which they believe are meant to discredit Jeffs.
One FLDS woman told the Tribune that Jeffs has never identified himself as the "prophet" - though he was considered one by his followers.
"He feels a weakness in the position he stands in," she said. "If he said that reported statement to Nephi, there was a reason for it. It makes him no less of a prophet in my mind.
"As you can expect, I am skeptical of the whole thing," she said in an e-mail.
A man who asked to not be identified, said that law enforcement is intent on destroying the FLDS leader.
"If they kill him he is a martyr. So the object is to destroy his credibility or his influence with his people," said the man, who was exiled from the FLDS community several years ago but still supports Jeffs.

Just goes to show that if people are intent on believing in something, sometimes NOTHING can change their beliefs.

Just goes to show that if people are intent on believing in something, sometimes NOTHING can change their beliefs.

Do you know how hard it is for anyone to admit they're wrong? Admitting such a thing is very very hard, and very few people can actually do it after a lifetime of living within a subversive culture. Add in the inherent interdependency of that entire culture on the collective, and it's no wonder they refuse to see the truth. The truth may set them free, but being free isn't what they're all about. If they wanted to be free, they would be. Since they aren't, that gives you some idea of what they really want.

Thrusting your choices onto someone else's shoulders is easier than making them yourself. Taking personal responsibility for you life is scary, but even moreso if you've never ever ever made your own choices.

Once again, let us all thank God for the US government, sending troops to Utah and reigning in Brigham's rogue social experiment. Only by the grace of God and the US government have we escaped a fate similiar to the FLDS members. (Well, I would have escaped because no way would I have joined a polygamous sect, but my Sweet Pickles' family has been in the church since the very beginning).

Yep...

It reminds me how some believers respond to GBH's statements on polygamy and Godhood, on Larry King.

They cannot accept that the prophet was telling the truth.

"He was just saying that to appease the public."

"He can't cast pearls before swine."

"He just sort of misspoke under pressure."

"He didn't really mean what he said."


I'm quite certain that if GBH found a document written by Joseph Smith claiming he made it all up, and shared said document with the church during conference, many members would STILL find a way to believe it all. Such is the nature of belief.

Personally, I have come to believe there is a "hard wiring" of belief in the brain that truly makes it nearly impossible for some people to let go of belief.

The emotional heartache some experience as they let go of belief reflects the depth and strength of belief conflicting with one's sense of reality, knowledge, and experience.

I find the human ability and capacity for belief, one of the most intriguing of all human phenomenon.

~dancer~

True believers will find a way beyond his confession. Besides, there are probably others there clamoring to take his place.

He was a prophet but has fallen so the Lord took him out.

The Lord needs him to be taken so the new prophet can lead the church.

The Lord promised He would never let the church go astray so this is proof the Lord's hand is involved.

We are told that even the very elect will be vulnerable to the influence of Satan.

God's ways are not man's ways.

He is saying he is not a prophet because God needs to keep him alive... Like Joseph Smith, it is fine to lie for the greater good.

If he told the truth he would be killed.

We have faith that God is at the helm and is in control.

He is being persecuted which proves he is truly a prophet.

The Lord is just preparing the world for His return. Joseph Smith told us the last days would be filled with these sorts of trials.

The scriptures teach that a prophet will be killed prior to the return of the last days. This is just a fulfillment of prophecy.


There are always ways to justify anything.

~dancer~