LDS Freedom Forum

I'm going to go with:

1. Two hour block
2. Relief Society President part of the bishopric
3. Women (especially young women) can pass the sacrament

Fiannan wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 10:59 pm Word of wisdom to become non-compulsory?

Polygamy to come back?

Gay sealings?

Which would cause the most members to freak out?

Coffee deemed good and wholesome.

BeNotDeceived wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 7:12 am
Coffee deemed good and wholesome.

Gonna make coffee the official drink of mormons! make a Chain of coffee shops?

Chip wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 11:08 pm Try as I might, I can't come up with anything that would be surprising AND within the scope of reasonable possibility. There will be no real surprises, I think. There will just be some shuffling maneuvers.

Maybe a church-run school system for K-12 - that would be surprising. That seems very needed, but maybe too bold a move, as the beast system across the west doesn't want to lose control of programming kids and we don't mess with the beast system.

This is already in the works. I had lunch with a friend who works for the church who is working on it. He described it like the BYU-I pathways program, but worldwide for the K-12 level. Probably too early to be announced for this conference, though.

Here we go in order from likely to impossible

Likely/very possible
- Two hour block. (Already in place in some areas.)
- Sealings only in temples. (already the policy in some nations, solves an imaginary problem, gay marriages in the temple, and a real one, excluding families from weddings.)
- Sunday School to end (Please someone kill that program and put it out of it misery!)
- Reevaluations of which calling require priesthood and which do not. This will extend leadership opportunities to the women. (Callings such as clerks, Sunday school presidents, if we even have them, and so on.)

Possible/less likely
- Women (especially young women) can pass the sacrament. (I agree with Robin Hood nothing in scripture prevents this.) This change would likely be part of a slow pot boiling towards women ordination, see below.
- Expanding the role of the Relief Society Presidency and the Bishop's wife. (Again, creeping towards women ordination.)
-Returning to the original intent of the Word of Wisdom. ("Not by way of Commandment")

Not likely/still possible
- New scriptures (Proclamation on the family, Living Christ)
- Regional members of the 12 (Africa, Europe, Asia)
- Recognition for the Church in China (Likely would be limited to local missionaries only however.)
- Recognition of the Church in Saudi Arabia (Would be part of a liberalized policy in the whole nation, no missionaries.)

Not possible/highly unlikely
- Full ordination of women (This is going to be a very slow moving change so that people get use to seeing women and girls preforming roles once done by men and boys only. Boiling the fog as it were.)
- Church K12 school system. (Way too much infrastructure needed, cost is very high and in most of the world we do not have the concentrations of members to do it. Churches with extensive such systems either have vastly more member, Catholics, or run boarding schools such as the Anglicans and Quakers.) There exists a BYU independent study program for high school and there could be something like that but don't look to have anything like the Catholic system with stand alone schools.
- New church colleges.
- Having BYU become independent of the Church, sort of the way that Georgetown is from the Catholic Church. (This would just explode the cast of going to BYU.)

What have you been smoking!
- Return to plural marriage
- A date for the second coming of Christ
- Tent cities
- United order
- Gay sealings
- Endorsement of political parties and or candidates.

Fiannan wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 11:05 pm

mgridle1 wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 6:14 pm

Chip wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 6:01 pm Reinstituting polygamy...

Now, that would be rapturous.

I don't think it's even within the scope of remote possibility. That would be quite a way for the church to shoot itself in the foot, all across the world. I think that will never happen, in any parallel universe, ever.

Well, if things get bad enough with lower birthrates, men dropping out of the Church, etc. you never know . . .maybe women might demand it come back . Isn't there a scripture about the last days that 7 women will take hold of one man and demand he take away her reproach????

In seriousness, I agree that's not within the remote possibility right now.

The Church misleads with its statistics but all one has to do is watch the video "In Which They Fret Over the Young Single Adults" to see that the leaders are terrified over the low birthrates and declining marriage rates. There is no way that a huge percentage of active LDS women will find an active LDS man to marry. No way.

Changes to the Youth programs should hopefully correct much of that.

I don't see a need for polygamy, nor a belief it will "come back".

Davka wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 5:52 am Changes to the church higher education system? Shutting down BYU? Opening another church run school?

Or, heaven forbid, getting rid of the Cougar football team?!

Our top 20 ranked football team that relies on zero church funds and is self sustaining? I don’t think so. The bretheren see it as a missionary tool. Announcers talk about players and their missions, marriages, etc. I know of a t least one case where a nonmember went to BYU tv to watch a football game, caught General Conference instead, and began investigating the Church. As long as the football program remains a net positive it will endure.

JohnnyL wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 7:49 am

Fiannan wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 11:05 pm

mgridle1 wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 6:14 pm

Chip wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 6:01 pm Reinstituting polygamy...

Now, that would be rapturous.

I don't think it's even within the scope of remote possibility. That would be quite a way for the church to shoot itself in the foot, all across the world. I think that will never happen, in any parallel universe, ever.

Well, if things get bad enough with lower birthrates, men dropping out of the Church, etc. you never know . . .maybe women might demand it come back . Isn't there a scripture about the last days that 7 women will take hold of one man and demand he take away her reproach????

In seriousness, I agree that's not within the remote possibility right now.

The Church misleads with its statistics but all one has to do is watch the video "In Which They Fret Over the Young Single Adults" to see that the leaders are terrified over the low birthrates and declining marriage rates. There is no way that a huge percentage of active LDS women will find an active LDS man to marry. No way.

Changes to the Youth programs should hopefully correct much of that.

I don't see a need for polygamy, nor a belief it will "come back".

"Do we know that polygamy will ever be commanded again? In the 6000 years of religious history, the only adherents to be commanded were the Latter-day Saints between 1852 and 1890. Upon what basis does anyone assert that it will be commanded again?" Brian and Linda Hales

RAB wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 7:51 am

Davka wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 5:52 am Changes to the church higher education system? Shutting down BYU? Opening another church run school?

Or, heaven forbid, getting rid of the Cougar football team?!

Our top 20 ranked football team that relies on zero church funds and is self sustaining? I don’t think so. The bretheren see it as a missionary tool. Announcers talk about players and their missions, marriages, etc. I know of a t least one case where a nonmember went to BYU tv to watch a football game, caught General Conference instead, and began investigating the Church. As long as the football program remains a net positive it will endure.

I have to clarify...I made that comment completely TIC. I doubt there's a bigger BYU football fan on this board than me. The fight song was a lullaby my dad sung me as a baby (he played for the team back in the 80's and at one point his national championship ring was my "inheritance.") My brother is a key player on the team currently. I'd be heartbroken if we ended BYU football. #riseandshout

Robin Hood wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 3:22 pm I have heard the same thing, and from a quite direct source.
I have an inkling but I'm keeping my powder dry.

What's your inkling?

MMbelieve wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 4:17 pm Calling missionaries home or having them stop tracking on foot/car/bike. This would be major as we have had this since the restoration.

Changing the length of missions for both young ones and older couples too

Calling more people on missions of different age groups.

Opening of China and diverting all the missionaries there.

Having education through church schools as a church wide policy for our kids. A step towards establishing zion.
This is already in the works.

Temple worthiness interview changes

Garments being changed

New scripture

Any possible changes that would prepare the organization of the church for the Saviors return.

There are endless possibilities of changes than could be announced.

New mission calls are still going out and missionaries continue to enter the MTC weekly. Add to that new mission calls now only being delivered electronically as well as the MTC having recently received a facelift and it I don't think calling missionaries home is even a remote possibility.

mgridle1 wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 6:14 pm

Chip wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 6:01 pm Reinstituting polygamy...

Now, that would be rapturous.

I don't think it's even within the scope of remote possibility. That would be quite a way for the church to shoot itself in the foot, all across the world. I think that will never happen, in any parallel universe, ever.

Well, if things get bad enough with lower birthrates, men dropping out of the Church, etc. you never know . . .maybe women might demand it come back . Isn't there a scripture about the last days that 7 women will take hold of one man and demand he take away her reproach????

In seriousness, I agree that's not within the remote possibility right now.

Polygamy was a HUGE mistake, is not of God but of men and was never doctrinal (just ask President Hinckley). If you're interested in something as abominable and abhorrent as polygamy, you should go and join one of the fundamentalist offshoots that practice it down in southern Utah.

JohnnyL wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 7:49 am

I don't see a need for polygamy, nor a belief it will "come back".

one women is more then enough #AMIRITE!!!!

course talking about the women ordination. I didn't realize that was something people wanted.
I did a little google search and found this.

I use Archive.is so you see a snapshot and not give the site traffic.
http://archive.today/AnbLN

God is male and female?
That is episcopal level scripture comprehension there? Have I missed something.

"The fundamental tenets of Mormonism support gender equality: God is male and female, father and mother, and all of us can progress to be like them someday. Priesthood, we are taught, is essential to this process. Ordain Women believes women must be ordained in order for our faith to reflect the equity and expansiveness of these teachings."

Fiannan wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 10:59 pm Word of wisdom to become non-compulsory?

Polygamy to come back?

Gay sealings?

Which would cause the most members to freak out?

Personally, I would love to see an overhaul/update of the Word of Wisdom. Polygamy is not returning since it was never doctrinal in the first place and gay sealings would almost immediately bring the wrath of God down on the church and so that will never happen.

Davka wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 5:52 am Changes to the church higher education system? Shutting down BYU? Opening another church run school?

Or, heaven forbid, getting rid of the Cougar football team?!

Why would they shut down a university where 35,000 students attend which gets federal funding in terms of loans and grants and which also is a big money maker for the church? And BYU football means nothing to a lot of church members, especially outside the US and has no relevancy at all in the spiritual realm of things - I think we can safely rule these out as potential changes.

5tev3 wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 8:02 am

JohnnyL wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 7:49 am

Fiannan wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 11:05 pm

mgridle1 wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 6:14 pm

Well, if things get bad enough with lower birthrates, men dropping out of the Church, etc. you never know . . .maybe women might demand it come back . Isn't there a scripture about the last days that 7 women will take hold of one man and demand he take away her reproach????

In seriousness, I agree that's not within the remote possibility right now.

The Church misleads with its statistics but all one has to do is watch the video "In Which They Fret Over the Young Single Adults" to see that the leaders are terrified over the low birthrates and declining marriage rates. There is no way that a huge percentage of active LDS women will find an active LDS man to marry. No way.

Changes to the Youth programs should hopefully correct much of that.

I don't see a need for polygamy, nor a belief it will "come back".

"Do we know that polygamy will ever be commanded again? In the 6000 years of religious history, the only adherents to be commanded were the Latter-day Saints between 1852 and 1890. Upon what basis does anyone assert that it will be commanded again?" Brian and Linda Hales

Whom should we trust more on this historical analysis: Brian and Linda Hales or the Lord?

"David also received many wives and concubines, and also Solomon and Moses my servants, as also many others of my servants, from the beginning of creation until this time; and in nothing did they sin save in those things which they received not of me" (Doctrine and Covenants 132:38, emphasis added).

I think going to a 2 hour block is a major change and I'm all for it.
Getting out of the marriage business is also a major change for those of us in the U.S.
Announcing a ton of new temples isn't a major change, but it'll happen this conference.
YW won't be passing the Sacrament in my opinion.
RS presidency won't have anything to do with the presiding Bishopric in my opinion.

An interesting change, which I don't expect to happen, would be to make the bishopric calling a joint calling with husband and wife.
A wife joining her husband would be cool. Not to take away from him but to add to him.

Col. Flagg wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 8:34 am

mgridle1 wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 6:14 pm

Chip wrote: ↑September 23rd, 2018, 6:01 pm Reinstituting polygamy...

Now, that would be rapturous.

I don't think it's even within the scope of remote possibility. That would be quite a way for the church to shoot itself in the foot, all across the world. I think that will never happen, in any parallel universe, ever.

Well, if things get bad enough with lower birthrates, men dropping out of the Church, etc. you never know . . .maybe women might demand it come back . Isn't there a scripture about the last days that 7 women will take hold of one man and demand he take away her reproach????

In seriousness, I agree that's not within the remote possibility right now.

Polygamy was a HUGE mistake, is not of God but of men and was never doctrinal (just ask President Hinckley). If you're interested in something as abominable and abhorrent as polygamy, you should go and join one of the fundamentalist offshoots that practice it down in southern Utah.

Lol okay whatever. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. A mistake? Lol right. I agree that it is a practice fraught witha lot of peril and most people could not practice it and do it well. Of course it was doctrinal 132 and then it was discontinued.

No I'm with the mainstream I do believe it is doctrinal and is of god but it's not practiced today. The offshoots don't hold they proper keys so they can go pound sand.

Regardless of weather you think 132 was from JS or not it is part of the standards works

MMbelieve wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 9:35 am An interesting change, which I don't expect to happen, would be to make the bishopric calling a joint calling with husband and wife.
A wife joining her husband would be cool. Not to take away from him but to add to him.

That would require new scripture to do so fantasy land imo.

MMbelieve wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 9:35 am An interesting change, which I don't expect to happen, would be to make the bishopric calling a joint calling with husband and wife.
A wife joining her husband would be cool. Not to take away from him but to add to him.

Well that would narrow down the pool to choose a Bishop from. I can only imagine the power struggle some couples would have, and then there's the gossip factor from the prettier of the two.

Can't wait to meet Ajax for a mild barley drink or two

It seems to me that the church has thousands of meeting houses which could serve as schools during the weekdays, morning to afternoon hours.

shadow wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 9:47 am

MMbelieve wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 9:35 am An interesting change, which I don't expect to happen, would be to make the bishopric calling a joint calling with husband and wife.
A wife joining her husband would be cool. Not to take away from him but to add to him.

Well that would narrow down the pool to choose a Bishop from. I can only imagine the power struggle some couples would have, and then there's the gossip factor from the prettier of the two.

Obviously they couldn't call just any couple.
We're worried about the gossip from the wife? I thought all the stuff was mentioned in leadership meetings on Sunday morning anyways. Seems the bishop himself is big on gossip and sharing private information with people who have zero business knowing about.

I wouldn't worry about the wife so much. She wouldn't be the priesthood authority, he would be. She would just operate similar to however God and his wife operate together...how ever that is.

Chip wrote: ↑September 24th, 2018, 10:04 am It seems to me that the church has thousands of meeting houses which could serve as schools during the weekdays, morning to afternoon hours.

I believe that is in the planning already.