Of all the CFM podcasts I watch, you have been the only one to cover chapter 9 in depth. Thank you. While it has awful things described I think we need to study it as a guideline, so we can recognize things in the last days. I pray things never get as bad as in the Book of Mormon. But then how grateful I am for chapter 7, which is the solution to chapter 9. Thank you for doing things backwards this week.
Have sooo loved studying the Book of Mormon with you. I am a member of the church because of the book. I gave up my Catholic Family because of this book ❤❤❤
Thank you brother! I love the hope vs. Hope and charity vs. Charity. They are so different. This kind of Hope brings me back to my favorite scripture in 2 Nephi 31:20 which refers to the “perfect brightness of hope” that has always inspired me.
Ahhh, Dear Brother Jared….this is sooo very good! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your gift of teaching the scriptures in-depth. Your examples while explaining are spot on and immensely helpful! Seriously, you are such an outstanding teacher and such a blessing to us all 👍🏼🙌🏼
You have done such INCREDIBLE justice to this! So much so that I had to rewind 5 times from about minute 55 through 105. I’ve always tried to decipher the difference between faith and hope, and this finally brought me the clarity I’ve sought for. Thank you, Brother Halverson. Your insight is truly majestic!
I finally understand the "hope>Faith >HOPE>Charity concept, to my satisfaction! The process, for it does seems to be a process we need to choose to follow, now makes sense. This brilliant discourse has uplifted me and given me greater hope - (sorry not sorry)! I will be teaching this lesson on Sunday and I feel so much better about what I have prepared ,now I have reversed the chapters! Brother Jared - you should be declared a national treasure! Thank you.
This n lesson has convicted my heart deeply that I MUST increase my faith, look unto Christ as the chaos and disappointment surround me! Thank you for this reminder that HOPE COMES FROM CHRIST!!!
Brother Jared…your lessons, and particularly this one, on this very morning, has been a perfect brightness of Hope to my anxious heart❤️. I am so grateful for your faithful love of these sacred works that, through the Spirit, shine this everlasting Light of Hope into my home, and my own heart of faith. Thank you again, my eternal brother😇👍. We love you Jared….Keep up the good work. David
Hello from Austria! Good Morning start- had such a great growing study this year of the Book of Mormon- thank you Br Halverson. As Moroni closed and sealed the plates 400 after Christ , we in Europe simunarly closed the chapter of early christianity, too
Brother Jared! Wow I loved this lesson, the boldness and a strong spirit together is powerful! We need more of these! For 2 weeks Satan has been trying to discourage me and I am fighting the feeling! Today with your lesson I chased him away! I am going to listen to this one a few more times for the rhetoric discussion, I loved those explanations and I will be able to explain it to my friends and family ! Thank you❤
I have felt a greater kinship and deeper appreciation for Mormon and Moroni this year due to circumstances in the world in which we now find ourselves. I strive to take strength from their lives and counsel. And your counsel as well. 🙏
I think people are afraid that their faith won't see results. They see destruction all around.: children on the edge of death from addiction and a world of chaos. Thank you for addressing our deepest fears. Perfect timing.
Thank you so much for this video. Such great timing with the birth of the Savior coming up. I am grateful for the BOM. Ever since I have followed along and reading the scriptures, I have felt closer to my Heavenly Father and my Savior. I am more active in my ward and going to the House of the Lord more often. Thank you for your service in making these videos. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. Thanks. ❤
This was helpful because I was wondering about the difference between Faith and Hope. I would ask myself “If I have Faith why would I need to hope?” President Nelson also made a statement that basically says that Faith, Hope and charity are intertwined like the strands of a rope and that it is hard to distinguish between them. I couldn’t cut and paste that from my photos so that is a paraphrase, but it’s pretty close. As I reflected on this, I can remember as a child not even understanding what faith was, but that I knew I loved this person They called Jesus and it was after I felt that love for this man/God that I started to build my faith.
Merry Christmas everyone Jared ,hope you enjoy the month Christmas. Thank you for each study. Love these Videos You really help me to understand grow in many ways ❤❤❤ 13:10
I'm thankful 24 people were left to see and be around . I am greatful for each book 📖 in The Book Of Mormon We have come far ,and we fall to keep Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ ❤📚🙏 9:009:019:03 It's sad to see since I was born in "65 can't watch TV without changing channel due to bad words and things mentioned ❤ 10:41
Great lesson. Thx so much. I know no one knows how long Moroni lived but I like to think of him being translated like some of the other great prophets. You have one more lesson to go on the B of M. It will be a great lesson I know - Don't you think it would be so wonderful for Moroni being translated? I would like to think that the Lord has really honored him and been with him for all those years alone. What do you think??? Thx again.
Hola hermano Jared disfruto muchos muchos sus Videos soy de un pueblito del sur de Argentina y lo escucho de hace varios años sólo quería saber cómo está usted, lo veo muy delgado y se equivoca mucho más que antes cuando habla quería saber si usted está bien de salud? Mi papá empezó así y sufrió mucho de Alzheimer Por favor haga todos los chequeos que necesita un abrazo muy grande!!
Not trying to be a bother… I did enjoy the whole of the lesson here, but I’m going to fixate for a second on just one side note you mentioned. That is: Brigham Young’s rhetorical situation. I agree that some of the difficult things he said can be explained by his rhetorical situation.. but other things he said and did I can’t just explain away like that. His harsh accusations of Emma Smith, his awful perspective of Mother Eve and women in general. I’d love to hear how you wrestle with the really hard things that really can’t be explained away easily. I’m not asking you to do work for me- I’m wrestling. Been wrestling for years. Don’t plan on stopping until I know what’s real and true.
I am must to admit that I have had the same kind of questions... specifically about Brigham. I don't know if the following ideas will help you, but they have helped me. 1st of all, I fully believe that Brigham was wrong in his attitude towards women... I also believe that Paul had his moments of being wrong... and even Simon Peter did occasionally in his 1st letter, specifically the 3rd chapter. If you haven't recently, I would recommend the Unshaken videos from the New Testament year, specifically about the 'snicker scriptures' in 1st Corinthians and 1st Peter. Much of what they wrote/believed about women was based on cultural constructs and not on doctrine. I honestly wonder if they (Peter and Paul) wish now (with the benefit of hindsight) that they could rewrite those parts of their letters after seeing how their words have been taken, interpreted through the lens of chauvinism (even to the justification of abusive behavior), and then used as a weapon against women ever since. 2nd point is the concept of the Divinity/Humanity contrary that Jared has talked about. He covers it fairly heavily in his recorded stake fireside talk, Truth -- Finding Faith in the Age of Doubt, (you can find it on TH-cam searching that title) although that talk addresses more about race and the priesthood vs. gender relationships as examples. Brigham was a stubborn, hard-headed man... which served him well in moving the people across half of a continent and establishing settlements throughout the intermountain west (and beyond), however, that stubborn determination did tend to ride rough-shod over other people when he let the positive/negative side of his personality trait coin, flip to the negative. See the Unshaken episode for D&C 111-114. Jared is talking about Joseph, Thomas B. Marsh, and Simon Peter, but he could easily have included Brigham in with Thomas and Peter because they all had very similar personalities. Clearly, the Lord needs stubborn, hard-headed determination in church leadership but it is extremely important that they keep their 'personality coins' strength side up! Reference Matthew 16:21-23 (get thee behind me, Satan) and Luke 22:31-34 (when you art converted strengthen thy brethren). 3rd point... Brigham had a known habit of speaking 'off the cuff' at times, when his blood was up and he was frustrated. Then, after he received chastening from the spirit, coming back with humility and clarifying what the Lord actually wanted spoken... he famously did this in 1857 when Johnston's Army was marching towards Utah territory and possible war. He gave a very inflammatory sermon in the morning and a much more conciliatory one in the afternoon. Even then he clarified that it was 'Brigham' who spoke in the morning but 'The Lord' who spoke in the afternoon. A final point, and one that I still wish he hadn't felt the need to say, because I really don't like the attitude that it perpetrated about Emma, for decades to come (and honestly I doubt that Joseph liked it much either). When Brigham was alive and leading the church, there was a big and passionate divide between the LDS and the RLDS churches. To a huge degree, Brigham was the *poster boy* for the LDS church and Emma was the *poster girl* for the RLDS church. One can hope that they have reconciled by now, but I would think that he was trying to 'save souls' that weren't sure whether to choose the apostles or the Joseph Smith family, for the source of truth. (I say the 'Joseph Smith' family because Hyrum's family stayed with the apostles and have famously held many high leadership positions in it ever since). I hope that these points provide some food for thought. In so many of these issues, I have found peace, comfort, and understanding from the twin principles of 'proving contraries' and 'positive v. negative personality coins' that Jared Halverson teaches. Also know that in your questions, and in your search for peace and answers... you are not alone. You've got a 'sister in the faith' in me.
Thank you for taking the time to write this. I do appreciate your thoughts and perspective. They are helpful, and it is especially helpful that you don’t dismiss my questions but honestly and thoughtfully explore them with me.
@jjhardy2000 I think that your questions are completely valid... I just really appreciate that I was introduced to Unshaken, and Jared Halverson and his insights, generally speaking. Following this channel for several years now, my testimony has grown so much deeper. I've received answers to so many questions that I've had for years. To be clear, I still have my questions, but they are fewer, and I have much more confidence that the answers are out there. We will find them as we are ready to receive them. I also feel like it's our responsibility to support each other in our faith journeys on the Covenant path. We are all here together for a reason... I hope that you have a beautiful day!
Thank you! You put that really beautifully. A wonderful day to you as well. To the topic I brought up: regarding Brigham’s stories about Emma, I think he flat up made some of them out of the air (that she tried to poison Joseph. That Joseph told her she was the most wicked woman on the earth.) He also taught some 100% false doctrines as though they were irrefutable truth, which I wish was addressed more openly in the church. On the one hand it’s a very hopeful thought to me that God can and will use someone as a prophet who has some pretty important things wrong, some pretty clear faults, and flips at times to the negative side of the personality coin, as you say. It gives me hope that God can use me and won’t give up on me, though I am extremely flawed and have some wrong ideas about truth. It’s also really helped me to see that it is my responsibility to have a personal relationship with God and rely heavily on the Holy Ghost to teach me what is true, as prophets are falliable and should not be put on a pedestal as though their every word and action is what Jesus would say and do. They are given an opportunity to do their best in their calling and ordination, as we all are, and they stumble because of the weaknesses of the flesh, as we all do. I’m afraid that our current church culture does tend towards an unhealthy idolization of prophets. I will say, the ones we have now do tend to keep on the positive side of their personality coins more consistently, which is a blessing! I still make sure to line up whatever they say with what’s in scripture and what the Holy Ghost teaches me. When those 3 witnesses line up: prophets, scripture, and the witness of the Spirit, I can be sure it’s truth.
I completely agree with you, especially about the fallability of prophets (and honestly, I think that they probably would as well). It must be a huge amount of pressure to realize that someone's testimony and even their entire trust in God depends on you never having an 'off day' or voicing your opinion on a heated topic that you would change with the benefit of hindsight. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I really have learned this a ton from Unshaken. I have always had challenges about some, Paul (from some of his letters), Brigham, Bruce R. McConkie, etc... they famously wrote and/or said some real whoppers. Especially the Doctrine and Covenants year had some teachings that really stood out and helped me. When Jared Halverson taught about Joseph and honestly addressed his strengths and weaknesses, it really helped. In the New Testament year, when discussing that hard-headed 'rock' of a man, he often pointed out that there was both a 'Simon' side and a 'Peter' side to his personality... and that with time and maturity in the Gospel, the Peter side was around much more often. Honestly, the stories that his wife and his colleagues in the quorum could probably tell... That being said, the lesson that includes D&C 107 about the importance of counsels in the church (and in the home) was incredibly insightful. It makes so much sense to me that organizing the church to always have counsels to make decisions (even if it is just a counsel of 3 in a presidency... or 2 in a marriage) helps a ton. And then having God give different parts of the guidance/answer to the question on the table, to each of the members of the counsel, and making it the responsibility of the presiding leader to foster the spirit of love, safety, and inclusion so that everyone can feel free to share their insights and then decisions require every voice to be heard until all of the puzzle pieces are put on the table and the picture emerges and then the decisions are always finally and fully unanimous. That is the Lord's best tool to offset the 'humanity' side of the contrary Divinity/Humanity. The other major tool, that David O. McKay put into place that went live about a year after his death is the correlation committee of the church. After books like McConkie's 'Mormon Doctrine' (among others) and some incredibly opinionated general conference talks (charged particularly with political opinions... here's looking at you, Elder Ezra Taft Benson) President McKay and his counselors knew that this teaching of false doctrine had to absolutely STOP!!! That is why every general authority in the church is required to have his or her talks reviewed before being delivered and books reviewed before being published... to stop this rampant spread of false doctrine and personal opinion. You may also have noticed that relatively often, a general conference talk is worded slightly differently after the fact than what was originally given. Sometimes, if mistakes are egregious enough in the original delivery, the talk is re-recorded before it is officially published. The correlation committee is also the reason that pre-1970s conference talks are not included in the Gospel Library app and why some of these books (and book series) like the Journal of Discourses are permanently 'out of print' by the church... to try and control the spread of false doctrine. That is also why, in today's world of AI and deep fake technology, the church is providing a free monthly subscription of the church magazines to every household in the church and why they are very careful with what content is posted on the church-owned and run social media accounts. It is so important for the members of the church to know what sources of material to rely on. Finally, when it comes to the importance of receiving personal revelation, I like Jared Halverson's last verse of the primary song, 'Follow The Prophet'. "Follow the prophet, but he's not infallible. Make sure you get revelation for yourself!" Clearly, I am a Halverson fan... 😂😂😂 I'm certain that President Nelson agrees with that sentiment as well... as he's made clear over and over again since he became the president of the church in early 2018, when President Monson passed away. Anyway, I hope that this helps... it has been great chatting with you!!! I'd love to hear any more that you have to say!
Ww2 actually did much of this. Slow torture and cannibalism as ‘bravery’, rape cannibalism torture torture of their own rape produced babies and competition of who rapes and murders the most in a day in China. 100s per day per ‘soldier’. So while it seems crazy it happens unfortunately.
The irony of discussing infant Baptism & Catholicism here is that the Catholic Baptism is far more similar to a name & blessing in actual practice. Catechism, or the teaching of children about right, wrong, & responsibility happens when children are 12- just entering puberty & adulthood. Baptism at 8 is more like infant baptism that Catholicisms practices. I think it's Pogo time: "We have met the enemy, and it is us."
Of all the CFM podcasts I watch, you have been the only one to cover chapter 9 in depth. Thank you. While it has awful things described I think we need to study it as a guideline, so we can recognize things in the last days. I pray things never get as bad as in the Book of Mormon. But then how grateful I am for chapter 7, which is the solution to chapter 9. Thank you for doing things backwards this week.
"Beautiful" would be an understatement. Hope to erase hopelessness: this is a lesson perfect for the state of mankind.
Have sooo loved studying the Book of Mormon with you. I am a member of the church because of the book. I gave up my Catholic Family because of this book ❤❤❤
Wow
Welcome to the family
Thank you brother! I love the hope vs. Hope and charity vs. Charity. They are so different.
This kind of Hope brings me back to my favorite scripture in 2 Nephi 31:20 which refers to the “perfect brightness of hope” that has always inspired me.
This is the first time I have really read, studied, feasted, and pondered the Book of Mormon. Thank you for getting all the nuggets. 😂
Ahhh, Dear Brother Jared….this is sooo very good! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your gift of teaching the scriptures in-depth. Your examples while explaining are spot on and immensely helpful! Seriously, you are such an outstanding teacher and such a blessing to us all 👍🏼🙌🏼
You have done such INCREDIBLE justice to this! So much so that I had to rewind 5 times from about minute 55 through 105. I’ve always tried to decipher the difference between faith and hope, and this finally brought me the clarity I’ve sought for. Thank you, Brother Halverson. Your insight is truly majestic!
I finally understand the "hope>Faith >HOPE>Charity concept, to my satisfaction! The process, for it does seems to be a process we need to choose to follow, now makes sense. This brilliant discourse has uplifted me and given me greater hope - (sorry not sorry)! I will be teaching this lesson on Sunday and I feel so much better about what I have prepared ,now I have reversed the chapters! Brother Jared - you should be declared a national treasure! Thank you.
This n lesson has convicted my heart deeply that I MUST increase my faith, look unto Christ as the chaos and disappointment surround me! Thank you for this reminder that HOPE COMES FROM CHRIST!!!
Brother Jared…your lessons, and particularly this one, on this very morning, has been a perfect brightness of Hope to my anxious heart❤️. I am so grateful for your faithful love of these sacred works that, through the Spirit, shine this everlasting Light of Hope into my home, and my own heart of faith. Thank you again, my eternal brother😇👍. We love you Jared….Keep up the good work. David
Thank you for your faith and actions!
Just AMAZING lesson!! I love the Book of Mormon it has seriously been my life preserver thru out my life!!! Thank you Jared!!!!
Hello from Austria! Good Morning start- had such a great growing study this year of the Book of Mormon- thank you Br Halverson. As Moroni closed and sealed the plates 400 after Christ , we in Europe simunarly closed the chapter of early christianity, too
Oh, how I loved chapter 7 of Moroni!! Even thought of reading portions to the elders quorum this Sunday. Wonderful words of FAITH, HOPE, and CHARITY.❤
Brother Jared! Wow I loved this lesson, the boldness and a strong spirit together is powerful! We need more of these! For 2 weeks Satan has been trying to discourage me and I am fighting the feeling! Today with your lesson I chased him away! I am going to listen to this one a few more times for the rhetoric discussion, I loved those explanations and I will be able to explain it to my friends and family ! Thank you❤
This was a very powerful lesson-I can’t believe I’ve never seen its richness before. Thank you for your service to us!
Faith, hope and charity. Thank you very much😍👏
Thank you so greatly appreciate l and great teachings
Thank you very much 🙏
I have felt a greater kinship and deeper appreciation for Mormon and Moroni this year due to circumstances in the world in which we now find ourselves. I strive to take strength from their lives and counsel. And your counsel as well. 🙏
Merry Christmas! This was so good, I’m sad to say goodbye to our Book of Mormon studies.
I think people are afraid that their faith won't see results. They see destruction all around.: children on the edge of death from addiction and a world of chaos. Thank you for addressing our deepest fears. Perfect timing.
Thank you so much for this video. Such great timing with the birth of the Savior coming up. I am grateful for the BOM. Ever since I have followed along and reading the scriptures, I have felt closer to my Heavenly Father and my Savior. I am more active in my ward and going to the House of the Lord more often. Thank you for your service in making these videos. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. Thanks. ❤
This was helpful because I was wondering about the difference between Faith and Hope. I would ask myself “If I have Faith why would I need to hope?” President Nelson also made a statement that basically says that Faith, Hope and charity are intertwined like the strands of a rope and that it is hard to distinguish between them. I couldn’t cut and paste that from my photos so that is a paraphrase, but it’s pretty close. As I reflected on this, I can remember as a child not even understanding what faith was, but that I knew I loved this person They called Jesus and it was after I felt that love for this man/God that I started to build my faith.
Merry Christmas
Thanks ❤you
🎉merry christmas your words penetrated me ❤
Merry Christmas everyone
Jared ,hope you enjoy the month Christmas.
Thank you for each study.
Love these Videos
You really help me to understand grow in many ways ❤❤❤ 13:10
I'm thankful 24 people were left to see and be around .
I am greatful for each book 📖 in The Book Of Mormon
We have come far ,and we fall to keep Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ ❤📚🙏 9:00 9:01 9:03
It's sad to see since I was born in "65 can't watch TV without changing channel due to bad words and things mentioned ❤ 10:41
Great lesson bro! A lot of good materials. I always start studying my lesson watching your podcast. Thank you for your guidance.
I don't ever want to miss the mark, which is Jesus Christ. Thank you.
This is a hard lesson if I don’t remember that important things are more like plants than stones that can not grow.
4:30 Chapter 9 the worst kinds of wickedness
22:19 Chapter 8 infant baptism
45:20 Chapter 7 Faith, Hope, and Charity
❤
Great lesson. Thx so much. I know no one knows how long Moroni lived but I like to think of him being translated like some of the other great prophets. You have one more lesson to go on the B of M. It will be a great lesson I know - Don't you think it would be so wonderful for Moroni being translated? I would like to think that the Lord has really honored him and been with him for all those years alone. What do you think??? Thx again.
Hola hermano Jared disfruto muchos muchos sus Videos
soy de un pueblito del sur de Argentina y lo escucho de hace varios años
sólo quería saber cómo está usted, lo veo muy delgado y se equivoca mucho más que antes cuando habla quería saber si usted está bien de salud?
Mi papá empezó así y sufrió mucho de Alzheimer
Por favor haga todos los chequeos que necesita
un abrazo muy grande!!
Not trying to be a bother… I did enjoy the whole of the lesson here, but I’m going to fixate for a second on just one side note you mentioned. That is: Brigham Young’s rhetorical situation. I agree that some of the difficult things he said can be explained by his rhetorical situation.. but other things he said and did I can’t just explain away like that. His harsh accusations of Emma Smith, his awful perspective of Mother Eve and women in general. I’d love to hear how you wrestle with the really hard things that really can’t be explained away easily. I’m not asking you to do work for me- I’m wrestling. Been wrestling for years. Don’t plan on stopping until I know what’s real and true.
I am must to admit that I have had the same kind of questions... specifically about Brigham. I don't know if the following ideas will help you, but they have helped me.
1st of all, I fully believe that Brigham was wrong in his attitude towards women... I also believe that Paul had his moments of being wrong... and even Simon Peter did occasionally in his 1st letter, specifically the 3rd chapter.
If you haven't recently, I would recommend the Unshaken videos from the New Testament year, specifically about the 'snicker scriptures' in 1st Corinthians and 1st Peter. Much of what they wrote/believed about women was based on cultural constructs and not on doctrine. I honestly wonder if they (Peter and Paul) wish now (with the benefit of hindsight) that they could rewrite those parts of their letters after seeing how their words have been taken, interpreted through the lens of chauvinism (even to the justification of abusive behavior), and then used as a weapon against women ever since.
2nd point is the concept of the Divinity/Humanity contrary that Jared has talked about. He covers it fairly heavily in his recorded stake fireside talk, Truth -- Finding Faith in the Age of Doubt, (you can find it on TH-cam searching that title) although that talk addresses more about race and the priesthood vs. gender relationships as examples.
Brigham was a stubborn, hard-headed man... which served him well in moving the people across half of a continent and establishing settlements throughout the intermountain west (and beyond), however, that stubborn determination did tend to ride rough-shod over other people when he let the positive/negative side of his personality trait coin, flip to the negative.
See the Unshaken episode for D&C 111-114. Jared is talking about Joseph, Thomas B. Marsh, and Simon Peter, but he could easily have included Brigham in with Thomas and Peter because they all had very similar personalities. Clearly, the Lord needs stubborn, hard-headed determination in church leadership but it is extremely important that they keep their 'personality coins' strength side up! Reference Matthew 16:21-23 (get thee behind me, Satan) and Luke 22:31-34 (when you art converted strengthen thy brethren).
3rd point... Brigham had a known habit of speaking 'off the cuff' at times, when his blood was up and he was frustrated. Then, after he received chastening from the spirit, coming back with humility and clarifying what the Lord actually wanted spoken... he famously did this in 1857 when Johnston's Army was marching towards Utah territory and possible war. He gave a very inflammatory sermon in the morning and a much more conciliatory one in the afternoon. Even then he clarified that it was 'Brigham' who spoke in the morning but 'The Lord' who spoke in the afternoon.
A final point, and one that I still wish he hadn't felt the need to say, because I really don't like the attitude that it perpetrated about Emma, for decades to come (and honestly I doubt that Joseph liked it much either). When Brigham was alive and leading the church, there was a big and passionate divide between the LDS and the RLDS churches. To a huge degree, Brigham was the *poster boy* for the LDS church and Emma was the *poster girl* for the RLDS church. One can hope that they have reconciled by now, but I would think that he was trying to 'save souls' that weren't sure whether to choose the apostles or the Joseph Smith family, for the source of truth. (I say the 'Joseph Smith' family because Hyrum's family stayed with the apostles and have famously held many high leadership positions in it ever since).
I hope that these points provide some food for thought. In so many of these issues, I have found peace, comfort, and understanding from the twin principles of 'proving contraries' and 'positive v. negative personality coins' that Jared Halverson teaches.
Also know that in your questions, and in your search for peace and answers... you are not alone. You've got a 'sister in the faith' in me.
Thank you for taking the time to write this. I do appreciate your thoughts and perspective. They are helpful, and it is especially helpful that you don’t dismiss my questions but honestly and thoughtfully explore them with me.
@jjhardy2000
I think that your questions are completely valid... I just really appreciate that I was introduced to Unshaken, and Jared Halverson and his insights, generally speaking. Following this channel for several years now, my testimony has grown so much deeper. I've received answers to so many questions that I've had for years.
To be clear, I still have my questions, but they are fewer, and I have much more confidence that the answers are out there. We will find them as we are ready to receive them.
I also feel like it's our responsibility to support each other in our faith journeys on the Covenant path. We are all here together for a reason...
I hope that you have a beautiful day!
Thank you! You put that really beautifully. A wonderful day to you as well.
To the topic I brought up: regarding Brigham’s stories about Emma, I think he flat up made some of them out of the air (that she tried to poison Joseph. That Joseph told her she was the most wicked woman on the earth.)
He also taught some 100% false doctrines as though they were irrefutable truth, which I wish was addressed more openly in the church.
On the one hand it’s a very hopeful thought to me that God can and will use someone as a prophet who has some pretty important things wrong, some pretty clear faults, and flips at times to the negative side of the personality coin, as you say. It gives me hope that God can use me and won’t give up on me, though I am extremely flawed and have some wrong ideas about truth. It’s also really helped me to see that it is my responsibility to have a personal relationship with God and rely heavily on the Holy Ghost to teach me what is true, as prophets are falliable and should not be put on a pedestal as though their every word and action is what Jesus would say and do. They are given an opportunity to do their best in their calling and ordination, as we all are, and they stumble because of the weaknesses of the flesh, as we all do. I’m afraid that our current church culture does tend towards an unhealthy idolization of prophets. I will say, the ones we have now do tend to keep on the positive side of their personality coins more consistently, which is a blessing! I still make sure to line up whatever they say with what’s in scripture and what the Holy Ghost teaches me. When those 3 witnesses line up: prophets, scripture, and the witness of the Spirit, I can be sure it’s truth.
I completely agree with you, especially about the fallability of prophets (and honestly, I think that they probably would as well). It must be a huge amount of pressure to realize that someone's testimony and even their entire trust in God depends on you never having an 'off day' or voicing your opinion on a heated topic that you would change with the benefit of hindsight.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I really have learned this a ton from Unshaken. I have always had challenges about some, Paul (from some of his letters), Brigham, Bruce R. McConkie, etc... they famously wrote and/or said some real whoppers. Especially the Doctrine and Covenants year had some teachings that really stood out and helped me. When Jared Halverson taught about Joseph and honestly addressed his strengths and weaknesses, it really helped.
In the New Testament year, when discussing that hard-headed 'rock' of a man, he often pointed out that there was both a 'Simon' side and a 'Peter' side to his personality... and that with time and maturity in the Gospel, the Peter side was around much more often. Honestly, the stories that his wife and his colleagues in the quorum could probably tell...
That being said, the lesson that includes D&C 107 about the importance of counsels in the church (and in the home) was incredibly insightful. It makes so much sense to me that organizing the church to always have counsels to make decisions (even if it is just a counsel of 3 in a presidency... or 2 in a marriage) helps a ton. And then having God give different parts of the guidance/answer to the question on the table, to each of the members of the counsel, and making it the responsibility of the presiding leader to foster the spirit of love, safety, and inclusion so that everyone can feel free to share their insights and then decisions require every voice to be heard until all of the puzzle pieces are put on the table and the picture emerges and then the decisions are always finally and fully unanimous. That is the Lord's best tool to offset the 'humanity' side of the contrary Divinity/Humanity.
The other major tool, that David O. McKay put into place that went live about a year after his death is the correlation committee of the church. After books like McConkie's 'Mormon Doctrine' (among others) and some incredibly opinionated general conference talks (charged particularly with political opinions... here's looking at you, Elder Ezra Taft Benson) President McKay and his counselors knew that this teaching of false doctrine had to absolutely STOP!!!
That is why every general authority in the church is required to have his or her talks reviewed before being delivered and books reviewed before being published... to stop this rampant spread of false doctrine and personal opinion. You may also have noticed that relatively often, a general conference talk is worded slightly differently after the fact than what was originally given. Sometimes, if mistakes are egregious enough in the original delivery, the talk is re-recorded before it is officially published.
The correlation committee is also the reason that pre-1970s conference talks are not included in the Gospel Library app and why some of these books (and book series) like the Journal of Discourses are permanently 'out of print' by the church... to try and control the spread of false doctrine.
That is also why, in today's world of AI and deep fake technology, the church is providing a free monthly subscription of the church magazines to every household in the church and why they are very careful with what content is posted on the church-owned and run social media accounts. It is so important for the members of the church to know what sources of material to rely on.
Finally, when it comes to the importance of receiving personal revelation, I like Jared Halverson's last verse of the primary song, 'Follow The Prophet'. "Follow the prophet, but he's not infallible. Make sure you get revelation for yourself!" Clearly, I am a Halverson fan... 😂😂😂 I'm certain that President Nelson agrees with that sentiment as well... as he's made clear over and over again since he became the president of the church in early 2018, when President Monson passed away.
Anyway, I hope that this helps... it has been great chatting with you!!! I'd love to hear any more that you have to say!
Ww2 actually did much of this. Slow torture and cannibalism as ‘bravery’, rape cannibalism torture torture of their own rape produced babies and competition of who rapes and murders the most in a day in China. 100s per day per ‘soldier’. So while it seems crazy it happens unfortunately.
The irony of discussing infant Baptism & Catholicism here is that the Catholic Baptism is far more similar to a name & blessing in actual practice. Catechism, or the teaching of children about right, wrong, & responsibility happens when children are 12- just entering puberty & adulthood. Baptism at 8 is more like infant baptism that Catholicisms practices. I think it's Pogo time: "We have met the enemy, and it is us."