Let Them Ask - Jared Halverson at Restore
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 พ.ย. 2023
- Speaking from his extensive experience responding and ministering to those in faith crisis or transition, Jared Halverson directs us back to the origins of the Restoration: the pursuit of answers to life's biggest questions. He provides useful insights, models, and frames of navigating our personal and collective journeys through life.
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Jared Halverson is an associate professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University, and has taught religion courses at the high school and college level since 1998. He studied history and religious education at BYU and earned a PhD in American religious history at Vanderbilt University, focusing on secularization, faith loss, and anti-religious rhetoric. He is frequently involved with interfaith dialogue, has been a featured speaker in both devotional and academic settings across the country. He also hosts a popular TH-cam channel and podcast called "Unshaken,' with much of his personal ministry engaging one-on-one with Latter-day Saints experiencing different forms of faith crisis and spiritual development.
I have been listening to and following this good man, Jared Halverson, for a few years now and I can promise you that he is one of the most sincere, humble, decent, honest, and caring individuals I have ever known. His faith is strong, and he is a true disciple of Christ. Thank you Brother Halverson for all you do!
Same, Amen
Me too. Amen to all of that. I love love listening to him!
Unshakeable Faith has been a great podcast for me as I follow along with my LDS brothers and sisters in the BoM. I’m Protestant but wanted to really dive deep into the book this year.
I love Brother Halverson's TH-cam Unshaken, just marvelous.
I wish I could like this 5 times
He’s a voice I trust!
Brilliant as usual. Makes me wonder how I can be of more service to those around me.
Brother Halverson. You have blessed my life with your teachings for the past several years but today as we finished the last page of the New Testament I knew that I needed to express my gratitude and appreciation for your testimony. I realize now through your teachings that I could finally understand line upon line precept on precept the treasure that the scriptures are to me now at this time in my old life. i can now eat meat instead of drinking milk. I can feast daily upon the word with you and the Lord as my guide. I am so looking to the New Year and having you lead and guide me 9:14 through the Book of Mormon. You and your wife Emily and your five children are always in my prayers. I thank you with all my heart, mind, might and strength for your example. Happy New Year. ❤
This is needed counsel. We do need to allow questions, to be safe conversation partners, and not be upset or scoff at what is asked, because if someone really is wondering, the last thing they want is to be shut down. That ruins relationships, not just leaving questions unasked.
Thank you, Bro. Halverson!
God bless Brother Halverson and his family. 🎉
I love this talk! Thank you brother Halverson. You have great insights of the human nature and how to really show unconditional love to those who struggle with their faith and doubt. I'm grateful for this great teaching to make ourselves open for questions without judging anyone.
❤ I agree with your analysis. It was fascinated with this talk for those reasons and his comments on questions and on being really “being seen” Real friends help others live the Gospel and keep the laws of LOVE.
Wow that was great. I wish this could be sent to every ward leadership so they can learn to let them ask. I have had the experience if being shunned by wanting to ask questions. Thanks for sharing this.
I really like the encouragement to allow questions and to not get defensive or offensive. And especially to just listen with curiosity and seek to understand the person.
Back when I was questioning I took a friend in the ward up on his offer to chat, as he had gone through a faith crisis himself. I was so excited to finally get to open up and be vulnerable and express the pain I'd been carrying on my own. But I didn't get the chance to even speak much at all. He assumed he knew all the issues and all the questions and all the doubts a person could have. He downplayed and justified major issues, and just made me feel even more isolated, unheard, unseen. I didn't need answers from him. I just needed him to listen and have empathy. To validate how painful the experience of a faith crisis can be.
If we can give our questioning/doubting brothers and sisters that gift, it will go a long way in helping them heal.
This is great. Most people just want to vent, want someone to JUST LISTEN. I have learned this over the years and not necessarily about faith, but with women, politics, etc. People just want some one to listen and how good it feels to hear those questions audibly goes a long way. I love your comment.
You nailed that
I Love this Brother from another Mother👏🏻👏🏻🥰 Kia Ora (hello👋🏻) from New Zealand/Australia
Well done
We watch you as part of our “Come Follow Me”study. Just ran across this video as I was searching for your education info; as I find those things interesting. In that process the name Halverson popped up. The name Halverson means “guardian” and “defender”. After listening to this “Let Them Ask”video I thought it fit you perfectly. You are such a gift.
Wonderful! Thank you, Brother Halverson! 🎉
Thank you Br. Halverson. I have been a subscriber to your channel for quite some time and appreciate your teachings so very much. I'd like to share a poem I wrote for my Christmas greeting this year:
Christmas merry?? Christmas bright??
Never before was there needed more light!!
Mother Earth is on fire, with war that’s “for hire”.
Hard thru media, to find much that inspires.
Good is called evil & evil’s called good.
How can peace rein, if we don’t do what we should?
A Savior was sent to look like us…as a sweet babe,
yet a God ~ to teach us to trust.
Isn’t it clear, as clear as can be~
we need The Savior…who hung on that tree.
Yet rose on the 3rd day, that we’d understand,
there’s life after death…just hold His hand!!
May all the love & praise our hearts can give~ be our gift to Him,
who paid an awful price… that we might live.
Our Christmas can be Merry, our Christmas can be Bright~
thanks to the Babe in a manger~born that wondrous, Sacred Night.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! ~& thanks again for your amazing teachings!
That was a beautiful beautiful poem! Thank you so much for sharing your talents with us.
Brother Halverson, thank you once again. I so enjoy your discussions as well as your Come Follow Me lessons. I guess your magnification of your Calling(s) are what inspire me most and make understanding somewhat easier. And that's pretty good for a guy who can't figure out how to change the name of his computer, haha.
Asking questions is core to our religion, as we've heard in recent general conferences.
Joseph Smith certainly believed in becoming educated and asking questions - that's how our church started, with a burning question and an answer from God.
The challenge is putting this ideal teaching into practice.
Our church culture hasn't always understood this doctrine and its implications. But I'm glad we seem to be improving and become more aware.
This is so obviously a deceptive answer. We are encouraged to ask questions but only seek answers from certain sources and certain people. We have been told from apostles repeatedly that not all history is beneficial. When GA’s do a fireside with questions either the questions are filtered or they’ll side step the question. Our stake just had the fifth Sunday lesson on avoiding all ‘controversial’ topics in any of the discussions during SS or EQ/RS lessons.
Here’s a nice experiment, why not ask at your next SS lesson about the 2nd anointing and then qualifications for this secret ordinance. Honest question. Was openly discussed in (many) years past. We are open to questions right? Right?
This is truly making me re-evaluate if I REALLY am a safe space for my children to ask questions. I think I am, surely, but maybe......🤷
Thank you brother Halverson!
One of the challenges of building faith is that church leaders can give bad advice as well as good advice. Anyone serving in a leadership position can err. I find Lehi’s vision a great metaphor for finding the true love of God. Initially Lehi follows a man in white and ends up in a dark and dreary waste. Through prayer and Gods mercy he finds a way out. The scriptures. The Rod of iron leads him and his family to the tree of life. A loving Father has given us the tools we need to build faith, but just like Joseph Smith said, paraphrasing here, go to Lord. Stop coming to me for all your answers.
Thank you so much! This is the FIRST solution “how to” deal with family members who have left - way, WAY beyond “just love and support them! They have agency, there’s nothing much you can do!” I’m very fortunate that my inactive and beautiful spirit son was NOT successful in a suicide attempt two years ago! I never thought to ask him if he needed to talk and ask questions and that I would NOT be judgemental in the process 34:40 - thank you for giving us an “action option!” If nothing results at least they will know the “door is open” and we are there to listen and help if possible. Please get this message to as many of us challenged with this trial!
When we stew worry about loved ones I’ve recently realized it hurts Heavenly Father and Christ because it shows a lack of trust and faith in there plan for all of us! Just love,live the gospel, and don’t give up! AND pray for their protection from and guidance from the Holy Ghost!!!
Thank you!
I hope that everything is going okay with your mother-in-law. 😊
Really Enjoyed Your Talk ~ Watching Again .I Keep Trying To Find A Way I Can Stay ~ Already Left & Came Back ( I can’t “ Un - Know or Un- See ) Cognitive dissonance very painful ! I Miss What i Had ~ Have Not Found A “ Safe Place “ To Land ~ I Have Personally Experienced Sooooo Much ( I Still Believe In The Gospel Plan ( as Taught within the Church ~ However ~ Sigh
Welcome back. Keep pushing.
I received a master's in social work from the u of u. The opposition in that program is overwhelming and dark.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
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wow
Hi. So, we the LDS, believe that Jesus Christ is the literal only begotten son of our Heavenly Father. We don't belive in the Trinity. We believe that the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are one in purpose but not one entity. We really believe this. We pray to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. This is a very deep core doctrine that we hold. It is central to our beliefs. I pray that this somehow helps you to understand who we are. Thank you for raising your concerns.
The use the of term "anti-Mormon" is problematic because some of the assertions that are labeled "anti-Mormon" are demonstrably true. Attaching a pejorative term to facts undermine our credibility.
They are self proclaimed and self evident. Listening and allowing others to grieve, emote, be distressed, doesn’t preclude the listener to allow attacks and bad information to be addressed. You can be kind at the same time.
"What Keeps People From Asking Those Kind of Questions?"
It starts at the top. Starts at church leadership. The fearmongering, the constant warning of talking to those with doubts, or (ironically) looking for answers and understanding.... We can't go a session of conference without being warned against looking at info that may challenge our understanding.
Fear of the scariness that could be the truth, that could challenge one to reconsider one's worldview, that could cause one to have to accept that there are areas where they were wrong-
That stops people from hearing honest sincere questions, even and especially from those who they are closest to
There is no safe space for questions in the church, again ironically, considering the narrative of how the church started.
I think you have misunderstood their message. The message is not don't ask questions. The message is, be careful of the sources you go to. If you have questions about Christ would it be better to ask Judas or Peter?
That's equating the church to Jesus, which would be reasonable if you are starting from a believing standpoint wanting to keep that.
If you take the polar opposite- If you want to know if you should trust North Korea, would you go to the North Korean government or to the outsiders.
If you are dating someone, and you gain info that they are cheating on you, is the person you are dating the only one you would go to for clarification? Or would you aim to understand the accuser? Would you be kosher with your significant other saying "They are lying, but don't talk to anyone else about it but me?" What if this occurred multiple times? At what point do you open your mind to outside sources?
Me- I would prefer gather all information, aim to understand it, process it, and then come to a conclusion.
If an org tells me to stay away from any information not released by them? That's a red flag. And then if I find information they told me is untrue? And that happens time and again? At that point it's just willful ignorance to only use their "sources"
@@maureenschofield4784so perfect you daud
So perfectly said . They are not understanding . You have questions you go to the right source for answers .
The primary questions must be answered first, as they are the most important. They include:
Is there a God who is our Father?
Is Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Savior of the world?
Was Joseph Smith a prophet?
Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the kingdom of God on the earth?
In contrast, the secondary questions are unending. They include questions about Church history, polygamy, blacks and the priesthood, women and the priesthood, how the Book of Mormon was translated, DNA and the Book of Mormon, gay marriage, different accounts of the First Vision, and so on.
If you answer the primary questions, the secondary questions get answered too, or they pale in significance, and you can deal with things you understand and things you don’t understand, things you agree with and things you don’t agree with, without jumping ship altogether.
"IF YOU NEED SHINS TO KICK, I HAVE TWO" -Jared Halverson 😍😍😍 Me too.
That makes sense on the surface, but that really doesn’t represent the issue. It’s actually the reverse. That’s like saying:
“My finance friend is being investigated for embezzlement, so the primary question that needs to be answered first is if he is a nice guy”
You answer the primary questions WITH secondary ones.
@@Tres03 and my answer to those Primary Questions are YES! The secondary issues do not change my testimony about the restoration. Does not break my shelf. In today’s world, you might be able to walk with incredibly powerful technology in your pocket or backpack, but you cannot simply ask technology for light and truth. Walking with technology, even with its amazing capabilities, should never be confused with walking with Jesus. Relying on our walk with worldly voices and earthly sources can leave us vulnerable to false philosophies and untruths. These things may be appealing to us, but they do not represent the truth.
Our dear prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, once taught: “Truth is truth. Some things are simply true. The arbiter of truth is God-not your favorite social media news feed.”
truth cannot be “altered by the opinions of men. “absolute truth exists in a world that increasingly disdains and dismisses absolutes.”
Our quest in life is to seek for light and truth and to walk with our Savior and to receive the magnificent blessing of having Him walk with us, despite the darkness that exists in the world today.
“I plead with you to take charge of your testimony. Work for it. Own it. Care for it. Nurture it so that it will grow. Feed it truth. Don’t pollute it with the false philosophies of unbelieving men and women and then wonder why your testimony is waning.”
The truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ are taught most clearly and powerfully in the Book of Mormon. This sacred record of scriptures was a fundamental milestone in the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in this dispensation, following the visitation of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, to Joseph Smith.
The Book of Mormon testifies of God’s true and perfect love for His children.
The Book of Mormon contains the answers to life’s most compelling questions, and it teaches the doctrine of Christ. As our dear prophet, President Nelson, has taught, the truths contained in this book “have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.”
Spending time in the Book of Mormon will guide you to Jesus Christ and fill you with inspiration and revelation for your life. It will fill your soul with light and help you discern truth.
Please Help me I Believe Jesus Is The Son of God and God The Son of The Holy Trinity I Believe Jesus Shed His Blood and Died in my place to Pay for All my Sins He Was Buried Then 3 Days Later Jesus Arose From The Dead!!! But I am struggling with some Sins that I honestly don’t know how to quit I hate my Sins But I genuinely don’t know how to stop them Am I still Saved because of my faith in Jesus or am I Not Saved because of my Sins? Thank you for All your Help and Time God Bless you
We are ALL SINNERS. You are safe! We literally can’t not sin if that makes sense. Being worthy is not something we can change- we are worthy by virtue that He loves us. We are His precious infants and there’s never anything that will make Him stop loving and being absolutely in love with us and consumed by our abundant happiness. He died and went below and beyond all hell and sin. He’s covered more than all and would do it over and over if it would help. All He asks is we humbly, joyfully receive His gift and Follow Him: in order to let Him pour all blessings on us and become joint heirs with Him in God’s realm!
Keep trying.. never stop trying to do better. But tell our savior you cannot do it by yourself. Pray that he will walk with you in your struggle.
Don’t ever quit.
Stop telling yourself that you can’t overcome your sins and start telling yourself that through Jesus Christ, you CAN overcome your sins.
Ask for His forgiveness every time you slip up. If you repent over and over, and keep trying your heart and soul will change. Just keep working on being better.
This program really helps me so much. Connecting with others that struggle too, is a big part of finding healing and peace, in finding Christ.
If jared has the answers to these important and valid questions why doesn’t he say them publicly?
I invite anyone reading this to answer the ultimate question all of us who have exited the church have:
How can Mormon prophets claim they have prophetic abilities, live the highest standards of conduct, and communicate with god directly on behalf of the church AND ALSO fail at all the those things?
This is both the good news and the bad news. While it is scary to think that God works through weak, partial, and limited mortals like us, the only thing scarier would be thinking that he doesn’t.
This rule applies to our own church history as much as it does to stories from places long ago and far away. It’s a false dilemma to claim that either God works through practically flawless people or God doesn’t work at all. The gospel isn’t a celebration of God’s power to work with flawless people. The gospel is a celebration of God’s willingness to work today, in our world, in our lives, with people who clearly aren’t. To demand that church leaders, past and present, show us only a mask of angelic pseudo-perfection is to deny the gospel’s most basic claim: that God’s grace works through our weakness. We need prophets, not idols. Our prophets and leaders will not turn out to be who you want them to be. They are not, in fact, even what God might want them to be. But they are real and God really can, nonetheless, work through their imperfections to extend his perfect love.
Our church manuals and church histories are sometimes shy about this good news. With good intentions, they worry over your faith. Sometimes they seem too much like that friend of a friend who really just wants you to like them, and so they pretend to like only the same vanilla things they think you do. But God is stronger stuff than this. And the scriptures certainly are as well. If, as the Bible makes clear, God can work through liars, thieves, adulterers, murderers, prostitutes, tax collectors, and beggars, he can certainly work around (or even through) Joseph Smith’s clandestine practice of polygamy, Brigham Young’s strong-armed experiments in theocracy, or George Albert Smith’s mental illness.
I guess the answer to this one comes down to whether or not you believe the prophets in the Old Testament and the leaders of the New Testament were prophets of God (leaving out Book of Mormon for sake of argument). If you believe in those ancient prophets and leaders, it is inconsistent logic to expect anything different from today's prophets. If you do not believe those imperfect people were prophets, the answer would be to study their lives and stories, think deeply about your question and then ask of God if it is true.
@@dannyrocket77 I didn’t say they can’t be people who make honest mistakes.
I said their prophecies fail, they lie about their conduct and say it’s good when it’s actually bad, and say things in the name of god that end up being false.
I’ll be more specific.
How can Joseph smith claim he received a gift from god to translate Egyptian and then be unable to do so? His manuscripts of the funerary texts demonstrate this clearly
@@itsmeevan027 I see what you’re saying but it’s not enough to feel something and decide truthfulness. I’ll show you why with an example
Tell me how you can know the lds church is true without using a reason someone from another church could use to say their church is true.
“I feel good there”
“We have a book for evidence”
“Our guy is so amazing and wonderful. He really was gods chosen”
“It makes my family better”
Let me reframe your question a bit...
"How can prophets claim they have prophetic abilities, and communicate with God directly on behalf of the church AND ALSO fail at those things?"
The old testament is about prophets who had less than high standards of conduct, and if the current ones claim to be living such high standards they are being presumptuous.
The other points are similarly answered.
My question is why do we expect prophetic abilities (including communication with God) to be so far beyond our own?
“What keeps good people from asking questions?”
Good people who oppose the church don’t have questions, they have answers. It’s YOUR turn to listen. The church leaders aren’t always right. I’m a true blue member, but I’m so tired of the cult like behavior of people saying that if our answers from God oppose the leaders, then the answers aren’t from God.
Everyone can feel how evil polygamy is… yet the church continues to teach that it was and is from God. That men get to abuse women by taking on more than one wife in the next life and women are supposed to feel like that’s heaven to them.
Look at the ACTUAL facts. Brigham Young made up polygamy. Joseph Smith fought against polygamy in every way…. He spoke privately and publicly against it, he wrote in his journal about how bad it was, he canonized scripture that condemned it, he sued people for using his name to preform such atrocities. And then the church dares to call Joseph the liar instead of Brigham.
Brigham victimized women decades after Joseph’s death and coerced them into signing affidavits so they could make it look like they practiced the same religion as Joseph so they could gain possession of the temple lot. What were the women to do?? The judge wasn’t fool by Brigham, why are our current men of God leaders fooled by him?
Can you post the sources to these actual facts. I would like to read more about the canonized scripture, suing people...etc. I want to make sure they are actual documented facts and not recycled tropes. Thank you Sister Gittens.
P.S Have you received answers from GOD that have been opposed by the church/leaders/brethren? Do you mind sharing your questions and answers? Thank you.
Joseph Smith started the polygamy practice in Mormonism and it’s so easy to show.
If the church could throw BY under the bus and blame it on him they would have but they can’t.
Read the journals of Lucy Walker. Read the Happiness Letter. Read section 132.
@@Tres03 Some critics have claimed that D&C 132:4 supports the notion that polygamy is required for exaltation in the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[1] The text reads as follows:
For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory
There are a number of problems with the assumption that this supports polygamy. The following points should demonstrate the appropriate context and thus provide a better exegesis of the relevant passages:
An 1831 revelation through Joseph Smith defines the everlasting covenant as “the fulness of my gospel, sent forth unto the children of men, that they might have life and be made partakers of the glories which are to be revealed in the last days” (D&C 66:2; see also 133:57). All mortal who inherit celestial glory will enter into this covenant (D&C 76:101; D&C 131:2), which is comprised of bonds that cannot be broken (D&C 78:11).
The everlasting covenant existed even before the world was organized. “Wherefore, I say unto you that I have sent unto you mine everlasting covenant, even that which was from the beginning” (D&C 49:9; italics added). From the beginning, God has made covenants with mortals on earth and as they comply with them, they are blessed with exaltation (D&C 6:1, 14:7, 132:23). Compliance begins with baptism (D&C 22:1-4) and is completed through temple ordinances including eternal marriage sealings (D&C 131:2, 132:4, 18-20).
The Lord's pattern is to reveal the everlasting covenant to believers on earth. Then, when it is lost through apostasy, He reveals it again to a living prophet as a “new” covenant. That prophet is authorized to teach and is given priesthood authority to administer the requisite ordinances. Joseph Smith taught “…in all ages of the world, whenever the Lord has given a dispensation of the priesthood to any man by actual revelation, or any set of men, this power has always been given” (D&C 128:9).
The scriptures indicate that this covenant was made with Adam (Moses 6:54-55), Enoch (JST Genesis 9:21-23, 13:13), Noah (Genesis 9:16), Abraham (Genesis 17:7, 13, 19), Jacob (1 Chronicles 16:17), and Moses and the Children of Israel (Leviticus 24:8, Numbers 25:13, Jeremiah 32:40). Although Christ came in the meridian of time, He is the mediator of this covenant (Hebrews 13:20). Joseph Smith taught that the everlasting covenant would be reestablished through him (D&C 1:17-22; see also 15) “to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me” (D&C 42:9).
The first public references to the new and everlasting covenant of marriage came in May 1843 when the Prophet taught that “[w]e have no claim in our eternal comfort in relation to eternal things unless our actions and contracts and all things tend to this end.” Then two months later, on July 16, he became more specific. According to William Clayton, “He [Joseph Smith] showed that a man must enter into an everlasting covenant with his wife [notice the use of the singular] in this world or he will have no claim on her in the next.”
The verses surrounding verse 4 explain that once the covenant is revealed to a people, this covenant must be obeyed-that is, once the sealing ordinance is introduced among God’s followers on earth, they must marry according to that covenant or incur divine condemnation. The revelation reads:
4 For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.
5 For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world.
6 And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fulness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God.[2]
Later verses in the revelation demonstrate that the “covenant” that must be obeyed is eternal marriage, not plural marriage. Verse 19 promises exaltation to a man who marries a wife monogamously by proper authority and they live worthily. The threat of damnation in these verses is directed at individuals who have the opportunity to be sealed in eternal marriage, but instead choose a civil union or some other form of matrimony. They are “damned” in the sense that they “remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity” (D&C 132:17) and are not married in the next life. This threat of eternal consequences is similar to that accompanying other covenants and ordinances. For example, a person cannot reject baptism when the opportunity is presented and thereafter expect a second chance to accept it without penalties (see Alma 34:33-35; D&C 45:2).
The revelation further explains how a husband and “a wife” will be exalted if they are sealed by proper authority and they live worthily: “Verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, . . . [it] shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things” (D&C 132:19). Modern polygamists are all condemned because their marriages are not authorized. See D&C 132:18, 38.
Verse 19 does make use of the indefinite article "a wife" instead of a possessive pronoun (i.e. "his wife") or the definite article (i.e. "the wife" which wouldn't make sense grammatically), but that can simply be because both monogamous and polygamous marriages are in harmony with the covenant.
What all of these points should demonstrate is that the covenant of eternal marriage was necessary for exaltation and not specifically polygamous sealings.
D&C 132 itself says that a man must marry a wife "by [God's] word, which is his law". Thus, it is likely that plural marriage was necessary for exaltation when commanded (and exaltation would be an appropriate reward for keeping such an extremely difficult commandment) and it is not necessary for exaltation now since the commandment was rescinded by the Lord's word to his prophet Wilford Woodruff in 1890.
@@dannyrocket77 yeah, all that still doesn’t explain why Emma would be destroyed in the same section for not complying. Because they were already married and sealed. 132 is about polygamy, sorry but you have to accept that.
This was a very nice talk full of valuable insights.
The problem is that until we can convince the leaders of the church that questions are important, nothing can change. We are repeatedly told to question but if/when our answers differ from the answers in the Sunday School manual, we are told that we need to study more, attend the temple more, follow the brethren more, pray more, etc and then hopefully we will get the “right” answers eventually.
Also, in the speech entitled “Let Them Ask” you completely invalidated the young missionary’s questions by attributing them to him having a life of ease and being afraid of how hard a mission would be. By invalidating his questions, you invalidated anyone else who has those same questions and concerns. So maybe the title of your talk should be , “Let Them Ask” with a subheading of “but if you do ask I may point the finger back at you because your questions could only be attributed to a character flaw of some kind”.
I truly hope that at some point we can honestly say that we value questions and mean it.
Thanks for pointing that out. I actually feel that he did not invalidate the specific questions, but he did learn that those were not questions that individual missionary had. In fact, he said so at the end when he said he did not understand the questions. He never said those questions were invalid. His point was that sometimes the questions people say they have are not the ones they really have
That is the idea that behind every person is a question. Those questions very well may be legitimate for another person. They were not legitimate for that specific missionary because behind every question is a person.
Why is faith so often identified as unquestioningly accepting a set of doctrine and practice? I came to the Church because the branch was populated by people who were not afraid to discuss any question.
I have been taught the doctrine of isolation and protection. I think it stems from the early opposition to the Church.
However the doctrine of isolation and protection is false. It is in direct opposition to missionary work.
It is a pervasive false doctrine (while understandable).
Yes, unfortunately we have some traditions and doctrinal notions that aren't fully aligned with what Jesus taught or what God restored through Joseph Smith. Be patient with other members and try to teach what you understand.
@@markchristiansen9611 Patient yes, but let us continue to push the boundary of what we think we know.
Keeping in mind what we think we know is also defective.
Moses and Jesus operated outside the temple.
Joseph Smith was more like Aaron than Moses.
I agree that everyone should be able to ask questions without judgement, but the nature of this religion is that there is not that nuance you are talking about demonstrated over the pulpit with head leadership. Even President Nelson in last general conference mentioned keeping a distance from others who don't believe. Think celestial means keeping yourself untainted from other ideas. That leaves many in a self-righteous bubble. The mixed messages are taxing and confusing. Even the temple recommend questions in the past have required one not to fraternize and sympathize with "apostates." We have a lot of work to do in Mormonism.
Nice anonymous ad hominem. The problem wasn’t the plethora or questions raised about the church highlighting the (lack of) character of early church leaders, it was a character weakness of the ‘greenie’ missionary. Bottom line, when presented with too many factual ‘moles’ all at once, the problem suddenly lies with the asker.
Interesting take. I’ve never known him to be one to get defensive. It sounds like he cared enough to spend the time to accurately assess that the missionary was committed to holding onto his doubts for an underlying reason and addressing his doubts would be fruitless unless he first addressed the larger concern. If a spouse wants a divorce they can usually find lots of reasons for that divorce. Wouldn’t it be better to address why they want a divorce?
That’s how it seemed to me too. Why is it so hard to understand that all the church issues are CONNECTED. It’s all in the same church by the same level of authority aka the prophet/ apostles
This talk is great, but it is not realistic. It is a fairytale. It is not the lds church that I know. I asked a question once and was shunned by an apostle, two general authorities seventy, and a stake president.
So when the open minded/open ears are in front of you, you shun them off because that wasn’t the case from the beginning?
So is he ex mormon? I have concluded that LDS worship a different Jesus bc LDS deny Jesus IS GOD ALMIGHTY. He created everything according to John 1. This is no small disagreement but is a core tennant of Biblical christianity- the Trinity. Christians cannot pick & choose- we are to live & believe The Bible- not that we get it all at once, but over time. Truth is not what we choose it to be- truth IS JESUS CHRIST. The Way, the Truth, the Life. Stop putting JS on a pedistal, if he were a real follower of Christ He would not want a testimony about himself being a prophet- even the Holy Spirit of God (a person of the Trinity) points to Jesus not Himself, John 15:26. So many huge red flags about LDS- carefully consider: Who do you say Jesus is? THIS one Q will decide your eternal abode. Use the Bible & sincerely ask The Lord Most High for Biblical Truth- He doesnt need JS, Ellen White, me, you or anyone else, He is God & He decided Truth not a "church". I actually fasted & prayed over the Q of Biblical Salvation... what I think doesnt matter, what is True matters.