Church begins inoculation efforts on historical issues

[Uncle Ted]

Mother in Heaven: https://www.lds.org/topics/mother-in-heaven?lang=eng

Or is it Mothers in Heaven?

Also, this one seems new as well... Women, the Priesthood and the Temple: https://www.lds.org/topics/joseph-sm...women?lang=eng

Sorry OW'ers... you got it all wrong:

Two aspects of Joseph Smith’s teachings to the women of the Relief Society may be unfamiliar to members of the Church today. First is his use of language associated with priesthood. In organizing the Relief Society, Joseph spoke of “ordain[ing]” women and said that Relief Society officers would “preside over the Society.”23 He also declared, “I now turn the key to you in the name of God.”24


These statements indicate that Joseph Smith delegated priesthood authority to women in the Relief Society.25 Joseph’s language can be more fully understood in historical context. During the 19th century, Latter-day Saints used the term keys to refer at various times to authority, knowledge, or temple ordinances.26 Likewise, Mormons sometimes used the term ordain in a broad sense, often interchangeably with set apart and not always referring to priesthood office.27 On these points, Joseph’s actions illuminate the meaning of his words: neither Joseph Smith, nor any person acting on his behalf, nor any of his successors conferred the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood on women or ordained women to priesthood office.

It was all just a 19th century misunderstanding.

[pellegrino]

Mother in Heaven: https://www.lds.org/topics/mother-in-heaven?lang=eng

Or is it Mothers in Heaven?

Also, this one seems new as well... Women, the Priesthood and the Temple: https://www.lds.org/topics/joseph-sm...women?lang=eng

Sorry OW'ers... you got it all wrong:



It was all just a 19th century misunderstanding.

. . .

[MartyFunkhouser]

Mother in Heaven: https://www.lds.org/topics/mother-in-heaven?lang=eng

Or is it Mothers in Heaven?

Also, this one seems new as well... Women, the Priesthood and the Temple: https://www.lds.org/topics/joseph-sm...women?lang=eng

Sorry OW'ers... you got it all wrong:



It was all just a 19th century misunderstanding.

Summary.

1) Joseph Smith didn't mean what he said
2) We have regressed in our treatment of women and their involvement in the religion and that is a good thing.

I saved people having to read the women and priesthood essay.

[pellegrino]

Summary.

1) Joseph Smith didn't mean what he said
2) We have regressed in our treatment of women and their involvement in the religion and that is a good thing.

I saved people having to read the women and priesthood essay.

it's definitely the weakest of the essays. It will take a lot to walk back this one, which I think will eventually happen.

[RC Vikings]

What do you make of this?
http://www.mormonlink.com/archaeolog...er-day-saints/

[beefytee]

It's a hoax. I believe the story has been posted on here before. Uncle ted can tell you what those plates really are.

[LVAllen]

It's a hoax. I believe the story has been posted on here before. Uncle ted can tell you what those plates really are.

http://www.cougarstadium.com/showthr...=1#post1194864

[Uncle Ted]

It's a hoax. I believe the story has been posted on here before. Uncle ted can tell you what those plates really are.

Uncle Ted is on vacation. He can figure it out for himself.

[Omaha 680]

Uncle Ted is on vacation. He can figure it out for himself.

Your out of office notification is a bit curt.

[myboynoah]

Your out of office notification is a bit curt.

Yeah, who do we contact if our matter is urgent?

[Dwight Schr-ute]

I appreciate the good folks of Mormon link taking full ownership of the article after being called out on it again and again in the comments.

Folks.... We saw the article, it looked interesting. So we posted it - that's it.

The story has not been verified and has not be confirmed to be accurate. Appreciate all those who take this for what it's worth and Morm on... We LOVE the Gospel as much as the next member.

I, for one, will be Morming on.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Elder Ballard:

"Gone are the days when a student asks an honest question and teacher responded, 'don't worry about it.' Gone are the days when a student raised a sincere concern, and a teacher bore his or her testimony as a response intended to avoid the issue."
"Let me warn you not to pass along faith promoting or unsubstantiated rumors or outdated understandings and explanations of our doctrines or practices from the past."
"Consult the works of recognized, thoughtful and faithful LDS scholars to ensure you do not teach things that are untrue, out of date, or odd and quirky."
"Master the content of the Gospel Topics essays."

https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch...16/02?lang=eng

[Clark Addison]

Elder Ballard:



https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch...16/02?lang=eng

That's really interesting, especially coming from MRB, especially this part*:

Gone are the days when a student raised a sincere concern, and a teacher bore his or her testimony as a response intended to avoid the issue.

I'm sure I am not the only one who, more than just seeing this used, was taught as a missionary that it was the right and proper way to handle concerns.

* And when I say "especially this part", it of course means especially of all of the parts that I read, which to this point have only been the ones that the Dude quoted.

[Northwestcoug]

That's really interesting, especially coming from MRB, especially this part*:



I'm sure I am not the only one who, more than just seeing this used, was taught as a missionary that it was the right and proper way to handle concerns.

* And when I say "especially this part", it of course means especially of all of the parts that I read, which to this point have only been the ones that the Dude quoted.

I think this new approach by Ballard is a definite improvement. He has broadcast the new essays to the teachers of the church. This will improve the general knowledge of the future of the church. But I agree, there is still a point with every one of these issues where the final word is a sincere testimony that the church is true. It just moves the testimony bearing back one step. Polygamy: yes it was messy and our leaders didn't get much help from God, but it was from God. Blacks and the priesthood: Our prophets were products of their time, and they did seek God's will, but it wasn't until 1979 that He decided it was time. Book of Abraham: JS couldn't translate Egyptian and the whole facsimile thing is pretty embarrassing, but the book is from God. And on.

Will this work, as in preparing the future of the church to deal with the controversies? I think it will. I believed a lot of strange things, mostly because my parents and family believed it. And now that the church has acknowledged the controversies openly, some members who have doubt will at least feel relieved the secrecy is over. And now they will have some explanations for those controversies, albeit very faithful ones. I do think that there will still be people who will reject the church's official explanations and still leave the church. But in the numbers game, I think more will stay.

I found this language extremely interesting:

"We give medical inoculations to our precious missionaries before sending them into the mission field so they will be protected against diseases that can harm or even kill them,” he said. “In a similar fashion, please, before you send them into the world, inoculate your students by providing faithful, thoughtful and accurate interpretation of gospel doctrine, the scriptures, our history and those topics that are sometimes misunderstood.”

I know we all know the main reason the essays were published: inoculate the future generations. It's even in the thread title. But I found it quite jarring that an apostle openly acknowledged it.

[Bo Diddley]

I know we all know the main reason the essays were published: inoculate the future generations. It's even in the thread title. But I found it quite jarring that an apostle openly acknowledged it.

He's on here. Who do you think he is?