Religion isn’t going away, it’s transforming

[drumdude]

“They spoke of churches that felt judgmental, hypocritical, or out of touch—particularly on issues of gender and sexuality.”

Mormonism is a prime of example of that kind of Church. It checks those exact boxes.

The teachings/doctrines of the CofJCofLDS may not always align with the culture of the day.

One might actually expect that.

Regards,
MG

Unless it’s changing the temple garments, letting blacks have the priesthood, letting women speak in general conference, amending the introduction to the Book of Mormon, forbidding bishops to interview children alone, letting Mormon missionaries communicate with the outside world…

[I Have Questions]

“They spoke of churches that felt judgmental, hypocritical, or out of touch—particularly on issues of gender and sexuality.”

Mormonism is a prime of example of that kind of Church. It checks those exact boxes.

The teachings/doctrines of the CofJCofLDS may not always align with the culture of the day.

One might actually expect that.

Regards,
MG

Well, one would expect the teachings and doctrines and practices and policies within a Church directly led by a supernatural entity that knows the end from the beginning of all things, to be regularly ahead of societies thinking. But the SLC LDS Church ALWAYS lacks behind societal thinking by about 50 years, and is always playing catch up. When the SLC LDS Church makes a change, it's not a groundbreaking, ahead-of-its-time, thing. No, it's always a retrospective and begrudging attempt at getting more into line with society. Your Church follows society, it doesn't lead society. And that is not the hallmark of any organisation led by a God.

The SLC LDS Church - a day late, and a penny short. Always.

But maybe you have an example where the SLC LDS Church showed itself to be ahead of our time?

[sock puppet]

The teachings/doctrines of the CofJCofLDS may not always align with the culture of the day.

One might actually expect that.

Regards,
MG

Well, one would expect the teachings and doctrines and practices and policies within a Church directly led by a supernatural entity that knows the end from the beginning of all things, to be regularly ahead of societies thinking. But the SLC LDS Church ALWAYS lacks behind societal thinking by about 50 years, and is always playing catch up. When the SLC LDS Church makes a change, it's not a groundbreaking, ahead-of-its-time, thing. No, it's always a retrospective and begrudging attempt at getting more into line with society. Your Church follows society, it doesn't lead society. And that is not the hallmark of any organisation led by a God.

The SLC LDS Church - a day late, and a penny short. Always.

But maybe you have an example where the SLC LDS Church showed itself to be ahead of our time?

Thinking of how the LDS church ruminates and reminisces about the past, one can picture Archie Bunker and Edith at the piano singing, as if serenading the Big 15:

Boy, the way Glenn Miller played
songs that made the hit parade
Guys like me we had it made
Those were the days
Didn't need no welfare state
ev'rybody pulled his weight
gee our old LaSalle ran great
Those were the days
And you knew who you were then
girls were girls and men were men
Mister we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again
People seemed to be content
fifty dollars paid the rent
freaks were in a circus tent
Those were the days
Take a little Sunday spin
go to watch the Dodgers win
Have yourself a dandy day
that cost you under a fin
Hair was short and skirts were long
Kate Smith really sold a song
I don't know just what went wrong
those were the days

[Rivendale]

The majority of Mormonism’s attitudes on race mirrors Archie Bunker.

[I Have Questions]

The majority of Mormonism’s attitudes on race mirrors Archie Bunker.

The Priesthood/Temple ban on black people ended 47 years ago this month. Still no Black Apostle. April General Conference consisted of zero black speakers. It takes the SLC LDS Church five or six decades to catch up to where society has moved to. They never lead the way.

[MG 2.0]

The teachings/doctrines of the CofJCofLDS may not always align with the culture of the day.

One might actually expect that.

Regards,
MG

Unless it’s changing the temple garments, letting blacks have the priesthood, letting women speak in general conference, amending the introduction to the Book of Mormon, forbidding bishops to interview children alone, letting Mormon missionaries communicate with the outside world…

You've hit on some changes in policy and in the case of the Book of Mormon, further knowledge that has become available.

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

The teachings/doctrines of the CofJCofLDS may not always align with the culture of the day.

One might actually expect that.

Regards,
MG

Well, one would expect the teachings and doctrines and practices and policies within a Church directly led by a supernatural entity that knows the end from the beginning of all things, to be regularly ahead of societies thinking. But the SLC LDS Church ALWAYS lacks behind societal thinking by about 50 years, and is always playing catch up. When the SLC LDS Church makes a change, it's not a groundbreaking, ahead-of-its-time, thing. No, it's always a retrospective and begrudging attempt at getting more into line with society. Your Church follows society, it doesn't lead society. And that is not the hallmark of any organisation led by a God.

You could look at it that way.

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

But maybe you have an example where the SLC LDS Church showed itself to be ahead of our time?

Public support for nondiscrimination ordinances in November 2009.

Early organization and empowerment of women through the Relief Society.

Social Service Department (1919), which was a pioneering effort in professionalizing social work within a religious organization.

During the Great Depression, the LDS Church launched a comprehensive welfare program (initially called the Church Security Plan, later the Church Welfare Plan), which included the construction of Welfare Square in Salt Lake City. This program emphasized self-reliance, work, and community support, helping to alleviate the effects of the Depression for both members and non-members.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/1999/2/27 ... ores-hope/

The Relief Society’s Social Service and Child Welfare Department, established in the 1930s, was licensed to provide child welfare services.

The LDS Church has taught that humans can progress eternally, ultimately becoming like God.
https://sunstone.org/wp-content/uploads ... -15-29.pdf

The LDS doctrine emphasizes the enabling and strengthening power of Christ’s atonement, allowing individuals to overcome weakness and progress spiritually—a concept that has been described as more optimistic and empowering than traditional Christian views of human nature.
https://rsc.BYU.edu/foundations-restora ... t-doctrine

LDS teachings reject the traditional Christian doctrine of original sin, instead emphasizing that all are responsible for their own choices and that the Fall of Adam and Eve was a necessary step in God’s plan for human progression.
https://rsc.BYU.edu/foundations-restora ... t-doctrine

Regards,
MG

[drumdude]

Unless it’s changing the temple garments, letting blacks have the priesthood, letting women speak in general conference, amending the introduction to the Book of Mormon, forbidding bishops to interview children alone, letting Mormon missionaries communicate with the outside world…

You've hit on some changes in policy and in the case of the Book of Mormon, further knowledge that has become available.

Regards,
MG

You call it further knowledge, I call it bending to social norms.

It’s a time honored Mormon tradition since they abolished the “new and everlasting covenant.” So much for the restoration.

[MG 2.0]

You've hit on some changes in policy and in the case of the Book of Mormon, further knowledge that has become available.

Regards,
MG

You call it further knowledge, I call it bending to social norms.

It’s a time honored Mormon tradition since they abolished the “new and everlasting covenant.” So much for the restoration.

You can call it what you want.

The New and Everlasting Convenant is still an important teaching in the church.

In His preface to the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord said: “Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, …That mine everlasting covenant might be established.”

Christians don’t believe that the D&C is scripture, so they don’t hold this unique LDS scripture to be authoritative in their lives. In Mormonism, covenants are taken very seriously and must be obeyed.

This covenant, often referred to by the Lord as the “new and everlasting covenant,” encompasses the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, including all ordinances and covenants necessary for the salvation of mankind.
https://mrm.org/the-new-and-everlasting-covenant

The Meaning and Purpose of the New and Everlasting Covenant

A covenant in the gospel sense is a pact, a contract, or an agreement between God and a person (or persons) who receives priesthood ordinances performed by one with priesthood authority and who agrees to abide by the terms and conditions of the associated covenant. These terms and conditions are established by God.

A church magazine explains in more detail:

A covenant is a two-way promise, the conditions of which are set by God. When we enter into a covenant with God, we promise to keep the conditions. He promises us certain blessings in return. When we receive these saving ordinances and keep the associated covenants, the Atonement of Jesus Christ becomes effective in our lives, and we can receive the greatest blessing God can give us—eternal life (see D&C 14:7). Because keeping our covenants is essential to our happiness now and to eventually receiving eter­nal life, it is important to understand what we have promised our Heavenly Father (“Understanding our Covenants with God,” En­sign, July 2012, p. 22).
https://mrm.org/the-new-and-everlasting-covenant

The fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ (D&C 66:2). It is new every time it is revealed anew following a period of apostasy. It is everlasting in the sense that it is God’s covenant and has been enjoyed in every gospel dispensation where people have been willing to receive it. The new and everlasting covenant was revealed again to men on earth by Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith. It contains sacred ordinances administered by priesthood authority—such as baptism and temple marriage—that provide for man’s salvation, immortality, and eternal life. When people accept the gospel and promise to keep God’s commandments, God covenants to give them the blessings of His new and everlasting covenant.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... t?lang=eng

I'm a bit perplexed as to why you would say, "So much for a restoration."

Regards,
MG