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A Thread that Binds us to the LORD
Posted: March 5th, 2018, 12:02 am
by drtanner
Wise council from President Erying in Oct.
In the early days of the Lord’s Church, leaders close to the Prophet Joseph Smith began to speak of his faults. Even with all they had seen and knew of his standing with the Lord, their spirit of criticism and jealously spread like a plague. One of the Twelve set for us all the standard of faith and loyalty we must have if we are to serve in the Lord’s kingdom.
Here is the report: “Several elders called a meeting in the temple for all those who considered Joseph Smith to be a fallen Prophet. They intended to appoint David Whitmer as the new Church leader. … After listening to the arguments against the Prophet, Brigham [Young] arose and testified, ‘Joseph was a Prophet, and I knew it, and that they might rail and slander him as much as they pleased; they could not destroy the appointment of the Prophet of God, they could only destroy their own authority, cut the thread that bound them to the Prophet and to God, and sink themselves to hell’” (Church History in the Fulness of Times Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2003], 2nd ed., 174; see also Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 79).
There is a thread that binds us to the Lord in our service. It runs from wherever we are called to serve in the kingdom, up through those called to preside over us in the priesthood, and to the prophet, who is bound to the Lord. It takes faith and humility to serve in the place to which we are called, to trust that the Lord called us and those who preside over us, and to sustain them with full faith.
There will be times, as there were in the days of Kirtland, when we will need the faith and the integrity of a Brigham Young to stand in the place the Lord has called us to, loyal to His prophet and to the leaders He has put in place.
I bear you my solemn and yet joyful witness that the Lord Jesus Christ is at the helm. He leads His Church and His servants.
A thread that binds us to the Lord... To trust that the Lord calls individuals to preside over the affairs of the church and sustain them. Are we treating our current prophet like those in the meeting who claimed Joseph was a fallen prophet through our posts, comments, or opinions? Do we sustain others who openly dis-credit our Prophet and the church and do you believe President Erying that this is a thread that binds you to the LORD? Is there evidence of this in the scriptures?
Re: A Thread that Binds us to the LORD
Posted: March 5th, 2018, 8:17 am
by Mark
drtanner wrote: ↑March 5th, 2018, 12:02 am
Wise council from President Erying in Oct.
In the early days of the Lord’s Church, leaders close to the Prophet Joseph Smith began to speak of his faults. Even with all they had seen and knew of his standing with the Lord, their spirit of criticism and jealously spread like a plague. One of the Twelve set for us all the standard of faith and loyalty we must have if we are to serve in the Lord’s kingdom.
Here is the report: “Several elders called a meeting in the temple for all those who considered Joseph Smith to be a fallen Prophet. They intended to appoint David Whitmer as the new Church leader. … After listening to the arguments against the Prophet, Brigham [Young] arose and testified, ‘Joseph was a Prophet, and I knew it, and that they might rail and slander him as much as they pleased; they could not destroy the appointment of the Prophet of God, they could only destroy their own authority, cut the thread that bound them to the Prophet and to God, and sink themselves to hell’” (Church History in the Fulness of Times Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2003], 2nd ed., 174; see also Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 79).
There is a thread that binds us to the Lord in our service. It runs from wherever we are called to serve in the kingdom, up through those called to preside over us in the priesthood, and to the prophet, who is bound to the Lord. It takes faith and humility to serve in the place to which we are called, to trust that the Lord called us and those who preside over us, and to sustain them with full faith.
There will be times, as there were in the days of Kirtland, when we will need the faith and the integrity of a Brigham Young to stand in the place the Lord has called us to, loyal to His prophet and to the leaders He has put in place.
I bear you my solemn and yet joyful witness that the Lord Jesus Christ is at the helm. He leads His Church and His servants.
A thread that binds us to the Lord... To trust that the Lord calls individuals to preside over the affairs of the church and sustain them. Are we treating our current prophet like those in the meeting who claimed Joseph was a fallen prophet through our posts, comments, or opinions? Do we sustain others who openly dis-credit our Prophet and the church and do you believe President Erying that this is a thread that binds you to the LORD? Is there evidence of this in the scriptures?
I think this is very relevant today. Just look at some of the discussion here concerning the LGBT situation for one. Many members are calling into question the Brethrens statements regarding whether those who identify with SSA but do not Participate in the behavior can legitimately be worthy to serve and participate in the church. They have said those statements issued by the apostles are just plain wrong. Yet they have absolutely no insight on what has been discussed in the higher councils as to this issue. They know nothing of these inner workings and the outside pressures facing the church at this time but are more than willing to condemn the Brethrens statements as misleading to membership and destructive. I posted a scripture in Matthew 10 on another thread which states: 16 "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." The wolves are circling the flock and yet very little trust and confidence is being shown by some members who claim to sustain their leaders who preside over the affairs of the church. Instead of seeking for understanding they seek to disagree and condemn those leaders because they disagree with how they are handling this issue. That sure seems like a modern example of what Pres Eyring is referring to me.. Now let the fun begin.
Re: A Thread that Binds us to the LORD
Posted: March 5th, 2018, 9:53 am
by kittycat51
Thank you drtanner and Mark for your comments. They are spot on in my book. It's interesting because just this morning as I opened up LDS.org that talk by President Eyring was spotlighted. So I re-read it again. I felt similar thoughts go through my mind as Mark posted; except he so eloquently expressed them better than I could.