Serragon wrote: ↑July 6th, 2022, 11:03 amI think not having Moroni on the temple is a big deal.BuriedTartaria wrote: ↑July 6th, 2022, 10:37 am Remember what church was like in previous decades? Society is falling apart and the LDS church has not escaped this. My dad is a bishop right now. Fortunately his ward seems pretty unified and lively, but I feel bad for him. He doesn't know about my alternative beliefs on Mormon history. I love him dearly.
I know to most people it isn't a big deal but I was recently told the Saratoga Springs, Utah temple will be the final LDS temple featuring an angel Moroni. I admit, that in itself is not some humongous, tragic thing. But when that is one thing on top of other changes that have occurred in the LDS church over the past 10 years, it feels like there is an effort to make a new LDS culture. I have mixed feelings on how the LDS temple frames temple worship but I'm saddened that the angel Moroni atop temples is being done with. Maybe the higher-ups in SLC were offended by the angel dropping his trump on their flagship temple in SLC during the earthquake a few years ago :p
The church made a decision at some point that instead of trying to create a Zion community and bring people to it, that they would simply teach the world where they were and let them stay.
The fruit of this has been a major dilution of doctrine and a destruction of culture.in an attempt to be non-threatening to as many world governments as possible. The church really stands for very little now and has very little actual purpose. Outside of the claim to the keys to ordinances, you will get a better sense of comunity, culture, and purpose in most any local christian or catholic church.
It is ironic to me that RMN is often talking about how the youth of our church need to know who they are and they need to have a purpose. But at the same time he is busy removing everything that gives people a sense of purpose. What we do now in the church does not spring organically from our faith in Christ and the restoration of the Gospel through Joseph. It now comes from the top down in choreographed and emotion-dripping syrup that has little long term nutrional value for our faith. Our purpose seems to be membership instead of conversion, and the goal is to feel good about yourself as you are instead of change and sacrifice of will to Christ.
i've not been a member but just over a decade now, but i have visited a lot of the historical sites/pagents, watched a lot of Church vids that are on a channel on Youtube, training videos, missionary training, year in reviews.....etc that go back into the 60s up through the mid 2000s...met & made several friends with members from all over the world....
in my short journey here, i can see where questionable policies where enacted by the 15 going way back, and the interview Hinckley gave with Larry King sure wasn't a stellar performance imo, and under Monson's time i know some things that just make u shake ur head.........???
but, all those previous changes or "new" directions pale in comparison to what has taken place in RMN's short tenure, i mean it's just blow ur doors off right in ur face, constant tearing down of bedrock doctrines & principles!
it just bewilders me that 1 man, could upset over a century's worth of culture & society in such short of a span of time? AND none of the 15, Q's of 70s push back, while watching this complete upheaval take place???? and how did he go along with all the things previously, that he so rapidly upended in his first 2 years?
sadly, i just don't think there's a man in the 15 that will reverse any of RMN's changes given the chance?
Sister Watson-Nelson sure told the truth in her interview right after RMN was sustained, saying that....."now he can finally do all the things he's wanted to".........