Does anybody else feel this way? What have YOU done to be at peace?

[Rick Grimes]

So, I saw where somebody else posted a question about "What the Church should do?", but this is more about what can or should WE do, as individuals and as families?

So to preface this question, I want to share that I do absolutley believe in the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the prophet, Joseph Smith. I believe that the priesthood was indeed restored and still exists in the Church and ONLY in the restored Gospel of Christ. I have seen miracles and I have seen prophetic leadership in action, both high and low.

Lately though, I am struggling to see the Lord's guiding hand in our Church's affairs.
This latest Gadianton assault on our liberties that is masked as a deadly illness is one that I would have expected more leadership from our ordained "Leaders". Instead, we see our church pandering to the world and having us all play along with the "Emperor's new cloths". Instead of divine counsel we are being spoken to about racism. Instead of condemning the latest outrage of gender bending, we are hearing about how homophobic we are and how we need to be more accepting. In short, instead of leadership and warnings to turn away from these falsehoods, the leadership is echoing what the world and media are already hammering into our heads on a daily basis.
We see a church that seems to care more about virtue signaling than actually providing charity to those who need it. (Starting off with giving a full and clear definition of what tithing actually is versus the tribal law we accept as tithing) This is hurting poor people around the world that have to make a choice on whether to feed their children or to pay tithing. Why do the GA's get compensated 6 figures when they have preached to us for years about unpaid ministry?
Why has the temple endowment been changed to something Disney would approve of, with the endowment being more gender neutral and less offensive towards feminism?

Now we have apostles that have made some very strange claims such as "masks and social distancing being true marks of charity" and that "homosexuality isnt a sin". Utah is one of only 14 states where therapy for individuals who would seek help to overcome their sexual attraction to their same sex is illegal. Yet, it's perfectly legal for a 12 year old to recieve "therapy" to help transition to the opposite gender? If you look at the other 13 states of who has outlawed this therapy it is all the blue states. Hardly any of the other southern Christian states have agreed to make this help illegal to obtain. Why are we in so much desperation to please the world?

I'm at a loss. My wife and I have wondered if the leaders of our church have offended God so much that they are not recieving revelation anymore and are instead relying on PR firms and opinion polls to dictate church policy. (Look how many changes to the handbook as of late)

I wonder if anybody here has any wisdom or experience in feeling the same? What are you doing to stay true to the Kingdom, while also recognizing that our leaders are not leading us according to God's will. (Or maybe they are, and I'm just wrong and arrogant to believe otherwise?)

I'm curious what others have to offer. Right now, we feel like we arent recieving good leadership. My wife has talked about taking our kids to another church so they can actually have interaction with other children and learn more about being a Christian, as our church has all but abandoned their stewardship to minister to the sheep all because of this worldwide lie. I'm loathe to do it because it's almost like waiving the white flag and giving up on the restored Gospel. (Dont get me wrong, we would NEVER join another religion or Christian church) But lately I am finding that I have more common beliefs with my baptists friends than I do the leaders of our own church. I am afraid to admit this as it can lead to being excommunicated. Such disagreements are not tolerated by leadership.

Please share anything you have felt impressed to do in these perilous times. For now, we are holding to the truths of the Gospel as found in the 4 standard works and original teachings of the Prophets. (Not the adulterated and edited books ok'd by the liberal committee's that ok church curriculum)

[mac]

Go read Russel nelsons message to the world called "Gratitude" take up that 96 year olds promise, put his words into action for you and my family my brother.
Hold fast to that faith you have for it is most precious in the sight of your Father in heaven.....

[Rick Grimes]

Go read Russel nelsons message to the world called "Gratitude" take up that 96 year olds promise, put his words into action for you and my family my brother.
Hold fast to that faith you have for it is most precious in the sight of your Father in heaven.....

I watched it. Wow. Guess you didnt read about my concerns? The video is a puff piece about feeling grateful during this "pandemic". This is precisely the messaging that I take issue with. Why are we calling this a pandemic when its mortality rate is the same as the flu?(1 percent) Why are civil liberties being stripped from us and we are applauding the governments of the world for them doing so? Where is the voice of warning telling us about this latest Gadianton scheme?

Vaccine?? Have you seen what is happening around the world to people who are taking these rushed vaccines? The way it sounded, church leadership is going to require us to show proof of vaccination for the Rona to obtain a temple recommend.

Not drinking the koolaid here.

[BruceRGilbert]

2 Nephi 25:
25 For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments.
26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

From another thread:

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=58235&start=60

One ought to ask themselves, "Exact Obedience" to what or to whom? You cannot "earn" entrance into the presence of God, save it be by the grace and mercy of Christ. Entrance is not administered simply for being "Church broke." One should concern themselves with how to enter into the Lord's rest, especially during trying times.

2 Corinthians 4:
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Peter 1:
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Doctrine and Covenants 131:
5 (May 17th, 1843.) The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood.

The "knowing" is in having received a promise and, herein, lies the Divine assurance and rest.

Hebrews 6:
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Lectures on Faith

The Law of Sacrifice
LECTURE SIXTH
1 Having treated, in the preceding lectures, of the ideas of the character, perfections and attributes of God, we next proceed to treat of the knowledge which persons must have, that the course of life which they pursue is according to the will of God, in order that they may be enabled to exercise faith in him unto life and salvation.

2 This knowledge supplies an important place in revealed religion; for it was by reason of it that the ancients were enabled to endure as seeing him who is invisible. An actual knowledge to any person that the course of life which he pursues is according to the will of God, is essentially necessary to enable him to have that confidence in God, without which no person can obtain eternal life. It was this that enabled the ancient saints to endure all their afflictions and persecutions, and to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing, (not believing merely,) that they had a more enduring substance (Hebrews 10:34).

3 Having the assurance that they were pursuing a course which was agreeable to the will of God, they were enabled to take, not only the spoiling of their goods, and the wasting of their substance, joyfully, but also to suffer death in its most horrid forms; knowing, (not merely believing,) that when this earthly house of their tabernacle was dissolved, they had a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1).

4 Such was and always will be the situation of the saints of God, that unless they have an actual knowledge that the course that they are pursuing is according to the will of God, they will grow weary in their minds and faint; for such has been and always will be the opposition in the hearts of unbelievers and those that know not God, against the pure and unadulterated religion of heaven, (the only thing which ensures eternal life,) that they will persecute, to the uttermost, all that worship God according to his revelations, receive the truth in the love of it, and submit themselves to be guided and directed by his will, and drive them to such extremities that nothing short of an actual knowledge of their being the favorites of heaven, and of their having embraced that order of things which God has established for the redemption of man, will enable them to exercise that confidence in him necessary for them to overcome the world, and obtain that crown of glory which is laid up for them that fear God.

5 For a man to lay down his all, his character and reputation, his honor and applause, his good name among men, his houses, his lands, his brothers and sisters, his wife and children, and even his own life also, counting all things but filth and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, requires more than mere belief, or supposition that he is doing the will of God, but actual knowledge: realizing, that when these sufferings are ended he will enter into eternal rest; and be a partaker of the glory of God.

6 For unless a person does know that he is walking according to the will of God, it would be offering an insult to the dignity of the Creator, were he to say that he would be a partaker of his glory when he should be done with the things of this life. But when he has this knowledge, and most assuredly knows that he is doing the will of God, his confidence can be equally strong that he will be a partaker of the glory of God.

7 Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things: it was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life; and it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things, that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has, for the truth's sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice, because he seeks to do his will, he does know most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life.

8 It is in vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are heirs with those, or can be heirs with them, who have offered their all in sacrifice, and by this means obtained faith in God and favor with him so as to obtain eternal life, unless they in like manner offer unto him the same sacrifice, and through that offering obtain the knowledge that they are accepted of him.

9 It was in offering sacrifices that Abel, the first martyr, obtained knowledge that he was accepted of God. And from the days of righteous Abel to the present time, the knowledge that men have that they are accepted in the sight of God, is obtained by offering sacrifice: and in the last days, before the Lord comes, he is to gather together his saints who have made a covenant with him by sacrifice. Psalms 50:3-5: Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant unto me by sacrifice.

10 Those, then, who make the sacrifice will have the testimony that their course is pleasing in the sight of God, and those who have this testimony will have faith to lay hold on eternal life, and will be enabled, through faith, to endure unto the end, and receive the crown that is laid up for them that love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who do not make the sacrifice cannot enjoy this faith, because men are dependent upon this sacrifice in order to obtain this faith; therefore, they cannot lay hold upon eternal life, because the revelations of God do not guarantee unto them the authority so to do; and without this guarantee faith could not exist.

11 All the saints of whom we have account in all the revelations of God which are extant, obtained the knowledge which they had of their acceptance in his sight, through the sacrifice which they offered unto him: and through the knowledge thus obtained, their faith became sufficiently strong to lay hold upon the promise of eternal life, and to endure us seeing him who is invisible; and were enabled, through faith, to combat the powers of darkness, contend against the wiles of the adversary, overcome the world, and obtain the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls.

12 But those who have not made this sacrifice to God, do not know that the course which they pursue is well pleasing in his sight; for whatever may be their belief or their opinion, it is a matter of doubt and uncertainty in their mind; and where doubt and uncertainty is, there faith is not, nor can it be. For doubt and faith do not exist in the same person at the same time. So that persons whose minds are under doubts and fears cannot have unshaken confidence, and where unshaken confidence is not, there faith is weak, and where faith is weak, the persons will not be able to contend against all the opposition, tribulations and afflictions which they will have to encounter in order to be heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ Jesus; and they will grow weary in their minds, and the adversary will have power over them and destroy them.

Hebrews 7:
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

Hebrews 8:
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth bold is ready to vanish away.

By virtue of having the Lectures on Faith removed from the cannon of Scripture, which was taught in the School of the Prophets, it is of little wonder why there is bewilderment as to "the promises" and "entering into the Lord's rest." The so called, "Covenant Path" is a watered down, "milky" skeleton of what once was a grand expose of how to attain God's rest. It has been obscured and obfuscated; crouched in symbolism, manipulation and control.

I lament for those who brush these things off and pass them by. It is a travesty to always seek "The Easy Button" and place your very salvation in the hands of another who may be more myopic than yourself. The vague call to seek personal revelation should be brought to focus: "seek to hear the promise of the Lord that you shall have eternal life; seek to have your calling and election made sure."

Scriptural confirmation of how to enter into the Lord's rest through the "promise."

Doctrine and Covenants 88:
3 Wherefore, I now send upon you another Comforter, even upon you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of promise; which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is recorded in the testimony of John.
4 This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom;
5 Which glory is that of the church of the Firstborn, even of God, the holiest of all, through Jesus Christ his Son—
6 He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;
7 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.

With these scriptural witnesses and many more, with knowledge that Yeshua received His calling and election at His baptism, with "material witnesses" that have attained the promises - I would ask each of you to make the effort to bring this about in your own life through following the Spirit and asking for guidance in doing so.

There were those who desired to be like the Savior in the pre-mortal realm. They desired to be of and after His "order" in a "fraternity-like" ("sorority like,") society that would learn to emulate and practice "like" virtues, and, hence, a "Pre-mortal Endowment" was instituted for those who wished to "consecrate" themselves to be as He is:

Alma 13:
1 And again, my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people.
2 And those priests were ordained after the order of his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption.
3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.
4 And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren.
5 Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren; thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son, who was prepared—
6 And thus being called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest—
7 This high priesthood being after the order of his Son, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other words, being without beginning of days or end of years, being prepared from eternity to all eternity, according to his foreknowledge of all things—
8 Now they were ordained after this manner—being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end—
9 Thus they become high priests forever, after the order of the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, who is without beginning of days or end of years, who is full of grace, equity, and truth. And thus it is. Amen.
10 Now, as I said concerning the holy order, or this high priesthood, there were many who were ordained and became high priests of God; and it was on account of their exceeding faith and repentance, and their righteousness before God, they choosing to repent and work righteousness rather than to perish;
11 Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.
12 Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God.
13 And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest.
14 Yea, humble yourselves even as the people in the days of Melchizedek, who was also a high priest after this same order which I have spoken, who also took upon him the high priesthood forever.
15 And it was this same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid tithes of one-tenth part of all he possessed.
16 Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord.
17 Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness;
18 But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father.
19 Now, there were many before him, and also there were many afterwards, but none were greater; therefore, of him they have more particularly made mention.
20 Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said may suffice. Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction.
21 And now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words unto them, he stretched forth his hand unto them and cried with a mighty voice, saying: Now is the time to repent, for the day of salvation draweth nigh;
22 Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have come unto us.
23 And they are made known unto us in plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard.
24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.
25 And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice.
26 And it shall be made known unto just and holy men, by the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our fathers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken concerning him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.
27 And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance;
28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;
29 Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest.
30 And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be abound down by the chains of hell, that ye may not suffer the second death.
31 And Alma spake many more words unto the people, which are not written in this book.

Things are going to get worse before they get better. I would beseech you to stand in Holy Places . . . that you may be firm in your MIND through the promises and the comfort in knowing that you stand acceptable to the Lord; thereby finding rest in trying times. Shalom means "peace." Peace is that which affords rest. It used to be uttered Jeru-Shalom, meaning "an inheritance of peace." God bless YOU to find the "NEW" Jeru-Shalom. When it is created within, it shall be manifest without. God bless you to this end. May you commemorate this season with such PEACE.

Years ago, I heard a joke from a missionary that seems pertinent to this conversation. He told about Saint Peter's tour of Heaven in which strict instructions were given to the participants to be extremely quiet at a certain location. As the procession viewed the pearly gates and saw the illustrious buildings studded with sparkling diamonds in the mortar that accented the view on the gold paved roads over which they traversed, they entered through the gates of a community. St. Peter instructed them to travel the pathway that led to an obscured view of the environment from behind the banks of a peaceful brook that ran, likewise, through the community. St. Peter placed his finger over his lips and motioned for the group to be quiet and to follow quickly in passage. Upon reaching the the exit gates, the crowd exited from behind the embankment, upon to the glistening gold road and were about to continue on their way. One of the bewildered spectators could no longer control his curiosity and inquired of St. Peter, "What was that all about?" St. Peter replied, "Those 'Mormons' think they're the only ones up here!"

Extant from the view of the majority of the LDS culture, the Kingdom of God is far grander in compass than just the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Restoration did continue, but outside of the confines of derailment. There was contact and influence that extended into other realms by Joseph Smith and Revelation. For example, "Ellen White" of the Seventh-Day Adventist group was a Prophetess that was to restore the true Sabbath. They, likewise, were derailed in terms of NOT believing in the Spirit in man and the Spirit World. Likewise, the Lord inspired others such as Dr. Martin Luther King to unravel the mistakes of the past in the "complete" Restoration of ALL Things" in permitting Ham's descendants to attain unto the Priesthood. Ron Wyatt was guided by revelation to locate the Ark of the Covenant in Zedekiah's Cave under Mount Moriah in preparation for the building of the Third Jewish Temple. There is NO monopoly on who can be utilized and directed by God to bring about His purposes. It is vain for that person or organization to claim the contrary. God chooses to whom He will reveal His will. We just have to be receptive enough to follow His course and recognize His hand in all things. (In regards to the Sabbath, the Savior appeared to the remainder of the Nephites on the steps of the Temple in Bountiful, those who had been living the Mosaic Law, in that account given in the "most correct" Book of Mormon, no teaching or mention is given in changing the Sabbath day to another, Sunday. When you realize why, you will understand the difference between the Sabbath and "The Lord's Day.")

I wanted, further, to include the following about the visit of "President" Nelson with the Pope. Please pay particular attention to how the Pope is addressed versus how "President" Nelson is addressed:

[Havenseeker]

This has been a very weird year for me, full of comfort and anxiety. I finally got a breakthrough on a illness that I’ve suffered from for over twenty years, so the COVID lockdown gave me a chance to heal. But we sold our house and have been basically homeless this whole year and I’ve been overly anxious about food storage but I have no place for anything more. So this year I’ve leaned on the Lord. I trust that he has my back while everything I own is in storage and my life is on hold. I trust that if everything in the world falls apart he’ll fill in my gaps. I’ve found peace (and extra anxiety) by reading a commentated version of Isaiah. I’ve been able to identify some gaps in my own observances of the Sabbath and Fasting that I am attempting to rectify.

I’m nervous about the future, but it looks like a lot of people are in that boat. I wish I was in my own home, with the ability to build my stores and get the garden prepped, but the timing is off and the Lord seems to be delaying my progress on that front, so I take a deep breath and wait with anxious eagerness to get moving again.

I struggle to hear the spirit, I’m uncommonly dense, but I trust that He’s there and going to sort things out for me. I pray and study. I trust and wait. That helps keep the anxiety of the world at bay and brings me a bit of peace.

[Fred]

So, I saw where somebody else posted a question about "What the Church should do?", but this is more about what can or should WE do, as individuals and as families?

So to preface this question, I want to share that I do absolutley believe in the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the prophet, Joseph Smith. I believe that the priesthood was indeed restored and still exists in the Church and ONLY in the restored Gospel of Christ. I have seen miracles and I have seen prophetic leadership in action, both high and low.

Lately though, I am struggling to see the Lord's guiding hand in our Church's affairs.
This latest Gadianton assault on our liberties that is masked as a deadly illness is one that I would have expected more leadership from our ordained "Leaders". Instead, we see our church pandering to the world and having us all play along with the "Emperor's new cloths". Instead of divine counsel we are being spoken to about racism. Instead of condemning the latest outrage of gender bending, we are hearing about how homophobic we are and how we need to be more accepting. In short, instead of leadership and warnings to turn away from these falsehoods, the leadership is echoing what the world and media are already hammering into our heads on a daily basis.
We see a church that seems to care more about virtue signaling than actually providing charity to those who need it. (Starting off with giving a full and clear definition of what tithing actually is versus the tribal law we accept as tithing) This is hurting poor people around the world that have to make a choice on whether to feed their children or to pay tithing. Why do the GA's get compensated 6 figures when they have preached to us for years about unpaid ministry?
Why has the temple endowment been changed to something Disney would approve of, with the endowment being more gender neutral and less offensive towards feminism?

Now we have apostles that have made some very strange claims such as "masks and social distancing being true marks of charity" and that "homosexuality isnt a sin". Utah is one of only 14 states where therapy for individuals who would seek help to overcome their sexual attraction to their same sex is illegal. Yet, it's perfectly legal for a 12 year old to recieve "therapy" to help transition to the opposite gender? If you look at the other 13 states of who has outlawed this therapy it is all the blue states. Hardly any of the other southern Christian states have agreed to make this help illegal to obtain. Why are we in so much desperation to please the world?

I'm at a loss. My wife and I have wondered if the leaders of our church have offended God so much that they are not recieving revelation anymore and are instead relying on PR firms and opinion polls to dictate church policy. (Look how many changes to the handbook as of late)

I share your beliefs about the church and Priesthood. I have not only witnessed, but participated in miracles.

I view the true church as the one written about in the scriptures and restored by Joseph Smith. So when leadership gets off of the rails and parties with Satan, my belief in the church or Priesthood does not change. Only my belief in the leadership.

As the lies become more often and more blatant, it is far easier for the regular joe to see through the crap and realize the lies for what they are. It doesn't change the fact that God is still in charge. Why God lets them live is anyone's guess, but likely because liars do not deserve the death penalty.

There are so many that follow the 15 instead of God that they actually believe the BS that wearing a mask is Christlike. We know with 100% certainty that it is not because there is not a single reference to Jesus ever wearing a mask, ever. So there is nothing Christlike about it.

Closing the churches was the final straw for many people. Jesus did not close the temple when the bankers took over. He kicked the bums out.

As more and more Bishops and Stake Presidents decided to follow the United Nations and WHO instead of God, it became clear that it isn't just the United States government that is corrupt from top to bottom. So the sifting continues. While the Brethren may have the faith not to be healed, there are people that when they ask God for a miracle, God comes through.

God is still here. He still answers prayers. He still performs miracles.

Even in times of turmoil, when things go south, loss of employment, problems that many would consider unbearable, the righteous are protected somehow.

Keep the faith. Just not in people that only pretend to be more righteous than you. You wouldn't take financial advice from the homeless. Likewise, you should not take spiritual advice from the deep state.

[CosmicMind]

So, I saw where somebody else posted a question about "What the Church should do?", but this is more about what can or should WE do, as individuals and as families?

So to preface this question, I want to share that I do absolutley believe in the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the prophet, Joseph Smith. I believe that the priesthood was indeed restored and still exists in the Church and ONLY in the restored Gospel of Christ. I have seen miracles and I have seen prophetic leadership in action, both high and low.

Lately though, I am struggling to see the Lord's guiding hand in our Church's affairs.
This latest Gadianton assault on our liberties that is masked as a deadly illness is one that I would have expected more leadership from our ordained "Leaders". Instead, we see our church pandering to the world and having us all play along with the "Emperor's new cloths". Instead of divine counsel we are being spoken to about racism. Instead of condemning the latest outrage of gender bending, we are hearing about how homophobic we are and how we need to be more accepting. In short, instead of leadership and warnings to turn away from these falsehoods, the leadership is echoing what the world and media are already hammering into our heads on a daily basis.
We see a church that seems to care more about virtue signaling than actually providing charity to those who need it. (Starting off with giving a full and clear definition of what tithing actually is versus the tribal law we accept as tithing) This is hurting poor people around the world that have to make a choice on whether to feed their children or to pay tithing. Why do the GA's get compensated 6 figures when they have preached to us for years about unpaid ministry?
Why has the temple endowment been changed to something Disney would approve of, with the endowment being more gender neutral and less offensive towards feminism?

Now we have apostles that have made some very strange claims such as "masks and social distancing being true marks of charity" and that "homosexuality isnt a sin". Utah is one of only 14 states where therapy for individuals who would seek help to overcome their sexual attraction to their same sex is illegal. Yet, it's perfectly legal for a 12 year old to recieve "therapy" to help transition to the opposite gender? If you look at the other 13 states of who has outlawed this therapy it is all the blue states. Hardly any of the other southern Christian states have agreed to make this help illegal to obtain. Why are we in so much desperation to please the world?

I'm at a loss. My wife and I have wondered if the leaders of our church have offended God so much that they are not recieving revelation anymore and are instead relying on PR firms and opinion polls to dictate church policy. (Look how many changes to the handbook as of late)

I wonder if anybody here has any wisdom or experience in feeling the same? What are you doing to stay true to the Kingdom, while also recognizing that our leaders are not leading us according to God's will. (Or maybe they are, and I'm just wrong and arrogant to believe otherwise?)

I'm curious what others have to offer. Right now, we feel like we arent recieving good leadership. My wife has talked about taking our kids to another church so they can actually have interaction with other children and learn more about being a Christian, as our church has all but abandoned their stewardship to minister to the sheep all because of this worldwide lie. I'm loathe to do it because it's almost like waiving the white flag and giving up on the restored Gospel. (Dont get me wrong, we would NEVER join another religion or Christian church) But lately I am finding that I have more common beliefs with my baptists friends than I do the leaders of our own church. I am afraid to admit this as it can lead to being excommunicated. Such disagreements are not tolerated by leadership.

Please share anything you have felt impressed to do in these perilous times. For now, we are holding to the truths of the Gospel as found in the 4 standard works and original teachings of the Prophets. (Not the adulterated and edited books ok'd by the liberal committee's that ok church curriculum)

It will get worse before it gets better. From our great magazine:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... e?lang=eng
"God’s love for His children is not exclusive, but rather all-inclusive. He invites all to “come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him” (2 Nephi 26:33).

He knows and cherishes:

The sister, recently divorced, who hurts during discussions about marriage.

The young adult struggling with questions, pleading for answers.

The sister suffering from anxiety, feeling deep loneliness and fear.

The young black brother, uncomfortable as his class discusses incorrect understandings about race and priesthood.

The sister who has not yet married and feels it means she has no value.

The mother of a child with disabilities, worried that his involuntary movements are distracting to others.

The brother with same-sex attraction, contemplating leaving the Church as he struggles to understand his future.

The sister who worries how she’ll be judged by others as she takes her first tentative steps back to church."

In the coming months, we will share the stories of sisters and brothers who have struggled to come to know that they belong. We hope these stories will inspire each of us to more closely follow God’s two great commandments: to love Him and to love all His children.

--------
Barf

[CosmicMind]

So, I saw where somebody else posted a question about "What the Church should do?", but this is more about what can or should WE do, as individuals and as families?

So to preface this question, I want to share that I do absolutley believe in the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the prophet, Joseph Smith. I believe that the priesthood was indeed restored and still exists in the Church and ONLY in the restored Gospel of Christ. I have seen miracles and I have seen prophetic leadership in action, both high and low.

Lately though, I am struggling to see the Lord's guiding hand in our Church's affairs.
This latest Gadianton assault on our liberties that is masked as a deadly illness is one that I would have expected more leadership from our ordained "Leaders". Instead, we see our church pandering to the world and having us all play along with the "Emperor's new cloths". Instead of divine counsel we are being spoken to about racism. Instead of condemning the latest outrage of gender bending, we are hearing about how homophobic we are and how we need to be more accepting. In short, instead of leadership and warnings to turn away from these falsehoods, the leadership is echoing what the world and media are already hammering into our heads on a daily basis.
We see a church that seems to care more about virtue signaling than actually providing charity to those who need it. (Starting off with giving a full and clear definition of what tithing actually is versus the tribal law we accept as tithing) This is hurting poor people around the world that have to make a choice on whether to feed their children or to pay tithing. Why do the GA's get compensated 6 figures when they have preached to us for years about unpaid ministry?
Why has the temple endowment been changed to something Disney would approve of, with the endowment being more gender neutral and less offensive towards feminism?

Now we have apostles that have made some very strange claims such as "masks and social distancing being true marks of charity" and that "homosexuality isnt a sin". Utah is one of only 14 states where therapy for individuals who would seek help to overcome their sexual attraction to their same sex is illegal. Yet, it's perfectly legal for a 12 year old to recieve "therapy" to help transition to the opposite gender? If you look at the other 13 states of who has outlawed this therapy it is all the blue states. Hardly any of the other southern Christian states have agreed to make this help illegal to obtain. Why are we in so much desperation to please the world?

I'm at a loss. My wife and I have wondered if the leaders of our church have offended God so much that they are not recieving revelation anymore and are instead relying on PR firms and opinion polls to dictate church policy. (Look how many changes to the handbook as of late)

I wonder if anybody here has any wisdom or experience in feeling the same? What are you doing to stay true to the Kingdom, while also recognizing that our leaders are not leading us according to God's will. (Or maybe they are, and I'm just wrong and arrogant to believe otherwise?)

I'm curious what others have to offer. Right now, we feel like we arent recieving good leadership. My wife has talked about taking our kids to another church so they can actually have interaction with other children and learn more about being a Christian, as our church has all but abandoned their stewardship to minister to the sheep all because of this worldwide lie. I'm loathe to do it because it's almost like waiving the white flag and giving up on the restored Gospel. (Dont get me wrong, we would NEVER join another religion or Christian church) But lately I am finding that I have more common beliefs with my baptists friends than I do the leaders of our own church. I am afraid to admit this as it can lead to being excommunicated. Such disagreements are not tolerated by leadership.

Please share anything you have felt impressed to do in these perilous times. For now, we are holding to the truths of the Gospel as found in the 4 standard works and original teachings of the Prophets. (Not the adulterated and edited books ok'd by the liberal committee's that ok church curriculum)

Some real leadership.
-----------
As I write, the most common depiction of our time is of uncertainty. A year after the first documented case of Covid-19, we are still
uncertain as to how and when the threat of Covid will disappear and we can go back to normal. Politicians, physicians, educators, business leaders and clergy all disagree within their ranks as how best to handle this crisis. Such uncertainty leads to stress, anger, frustration, depression, and anxiety. Many make the case that we have all been traumatized by this disruption of our lives. I feel this tension and anxiety everywhere I go. Yet amid such uncertainty, Christians can rest upon that of which we are totally certain; the empty tomb, and our conviction that Christ has risen from the dead. We are also totally certain that God loves us and is with us, even when we suffer, and when disease destroys our bodies. We know for certain that God shares His life with us, and through His
church attaches us to Himself. He allows us to share in eternal life, love, and joy. The tomb is
empty, and the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Blessed is the Kingdom!
In the last year, medical researchers and policy-makers have learned much about Covid. We understand that it is a deadly disease. We
also understand that God created us to be social beings, uniquely able to commune deeply with Him and each other. Like Him, we naturally desire to know others and be known. Isolation is unnatural, painful, and destructive to our minds, bodies, and souls

While we want to do everything that we can to keep everyone safe, it is also time for us to do all we can to return to the churches and do the work Christians were baptized to do. This work, called liturgy, is gathering as God’s people, worshiping with the prayers given by God
through inspired biblical and liturgical authors, receiving His message through the preachers and teachers of the Church, and sharing
the good news with the world as witnesses, icons and workers of good. We bear witness to Christ and His Resurrection with our families, our parishes, and the world. This is what makes us the Church, this is what makes us Christian. Parishes have been highly creative in
finding and inventing ways to do the Church’s work. People have gathered for daily prayer in internet chat rooms. Parishes have produced modules to lead family discussions. There are daily, weekly, and monthly Bible studies on Zoom and similar platforms. Parishioners have
been calling each other, offering encouragement, shopping, and rides to the doctors. Teens have held car washes to raise money for suffering people in Beirut. Ladies have cooked with masks on and practiced social distancing, parishes have held weekly virtual coffee hours, checking in on each other, and the list could go on. Fear has crept into many of our churches during this time of Covid uncertainty:

Be not afraid! Fear of getting sick, fear of losing freedoms and autonomy, fear of losing our financial reserves, and fear of losing our pre-Covid lifestyles. This sinful fear – sinful because it separates us from God and each other – often manifests itself in political activism and blog-posting. In the Church such activism is divisive and compromises our Christian witness. These things must be avoided in the Church and by church leaders. We have a greater purpose. One of the most frequent biblical admonishments is, Be not afraid! Christians need not be afraid in our uncertainty, because we are certain of our God. I join our Metropolitan in encouraging everyone to take every reasonable
measure to stay safe. How each of us defines reasonable is admittedly difficult, but we cannot surrender our lives to fear, as if we have no hope in God and do not understand that we are the people of the Resurrection. In baptism, we die with Christ and rise with Him. I am encouraged because I have great trust in the clergy, whose wearied yet optimistic faces I saw on my computer screen yesterday. They are worthy of our trust. I am encouraged because the people of our parishes have risen to the challenges of this world crisis, and are keeping our churches going. I am encouraged because our Metropolitan and bishops are dedicated and have kept the vision of St. Raphael, Metropolitan ANTONY, Metropolitan PHILIP, and all of the other bishops who have served in America. God is with us. Heaven is at hand. Blessed is the Kingdom
--------------

[SPIRIT]

the church's apostasy, and it's downfall and destruction, and the destruction of America
has all been prophesied in the scriptures - and about to be fulfilled - ending "The Times of the Gentiles"
We're seeing scripture being fulfilled before our very eyes.

There is really only 1 survival plan - Jesus Christ,
Turn to Him - with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.

A family member, who knows that still small voice, was told by the Lord to "stop listening to everyone."
He said "if you're listening to them, you're not listening to Me"
"Not all words are from Me; or for you."
"Place ALL your focus now ON ME ! "


"for without me - ye can do nothing"
John 15:5

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13

[gigarath24]

I think that this is a matter of the church leadership of picking their battles. There is nothing currently going on that is worth entirely pissing off Babylon to the point where everything the Church owns will be seized. Having said that I think that there will be a day when something heinous is being asked of the leadership where they will make their stand. Already President Nelson is changing the focus from the Church to the Home and I fully believe that the entire point of Come Follow Me has been to introduce independent study and worship. Do I think that the church is too accommodating in some aspects sure I do. But, I think that given the spiritual knowledge that 15 Apostles have perhaps they are saving their fight for a battle that is worth the confiscation of all the temples, meeting houses, dis accreditation of BYU, loss of non-profit status, etc. Furthermore I think that it is clear that the State of Utah =/= the Church. Heck even the prophets are emphasizing that we are a global church and thus have been distancing themselves for the past few years from the US and it's culture. What with the separation from the BSA, future changing of hymns, etc.
So to answer your question as to what I am doing to be at peace; I am following the Spirit and remaining faithful to the Savior by giving His Apostles the benefit of the doubt.

[Fred]

Furthermore I think that it is clear that the State of Utah =/= the Church.

I failed to get what you mean by this. I have to search pretty hard to find someone more evil than Herbert/Cox. The State of Utah is a government organization. The church claims not to be. The population of Utah are not particularly followers of the church. I don't even think Utah people are more religious than any other state. I am not trying to be disagreeable. I wouldn't know what I was agreeing or not agreeing to. You think it is clear. Maybe you can help me be clear about it.

[gigarath24]

Furthermore I think that it is clear that the State of Utah =/= the Church.

I failed to get what you mean by this. I have to search pretty hard to find someone more evil than Herbert/Cox. The State of Utah is a government organization. The church claims not to be. The population of Utah are not particularly followers of the church. I don't even think Utah people are more religious than any other state. I am not trying to be disagreeable. I wouldn't know what I was agreeing or not agreeing to. You think it is clear. Maybe you can help me be clear about it.

I was replying to the part of the OP about conversion therapy being illegal in Utah and in general the sentiment that the population of the State of Utah and their laws are somehow reflective of the church as a whole. There are people who honestly believe that because Utah has one of, if not the highest rate of pornography usage then that reflects badly on the church. Or how since Utah has such a high life expectancy rate then that means the WoW is magical. So I simply reiterated what I have had to say to many people (mostly church members and exmormons) in the past that Utah =/= the Church.

[Rick Grimes]

Furthermore I think that it is clear that the State of Utah =/= the Church.

I failed to get what you mean by this. I have to search pretty hard to find someone more evil than Herbert/Cox. The State of Utah is a government organization. The church claims not to be. The population of Utah are not particularly followers of the church. I don't even think Utah people are more religious than any other state. I am not trying to be disagreeable. I wouldn't know what I was agreeing or not agreeing to. You think it is clear. Maybe you can help me be clear about it.

I was replying to the part of the OP about conversion therapy being illegal in Utah and in general the sentiment that the population of the State of Utah and their laws are somehow reflective of the church as a whole. There are people who honestly believe that because Utah has one of, if not the highest rate of pornography usage then that reflects badly on the church. Or how since Utah has such a high life expectancy rate then that means the WoW is magical. So I simply reiterated what I have had to say to many people (mostly church members and exmormons) in the past that Utah =/= the Church.

Let's be real, like it or not, the Church is BIG in Utah. When the church threw its weight behind the gay conversion therapy ban, its fate was sealed. Why did the church even take a stand on the issue? There are so many other issues that the church remains quiet about, yet this one issue got it in gear to support a ban on this therapy. People who legitimately want to get help to help them deal with their feelings of same sex attraction now have to journey to another state to get this help. Yet, it's perfectly legal for a minor to get counseling to help them transition to another gender?? Why is the church silent on this sad fact?

[gigarath24]

Furthermore I think that it is clear that the State of Utah =/= the Church.

I failed to get what you mean by this. I have to search pretty hard to find someone more evil than Herbert/Cox. The State of Utah is a government organization. The church claims not to be. The population of Utah are not particularly followers of the church. I don't even think Utah people are more religious than any other state. I am not trying to be disagreeable. I wouldn't know what I was agreeing or not agreeing to. You think it is clear. Maybe you can help me be clear about it.

I was replying to the part of the OP about conversion therapy being illegal in Utah and in general the sentiment that the population of the State of Utah and their laws are somehow reflective of the church as a whole. There are people who honestly believe that because Utah has one of, if not the highest rate of pornography usage then that reflects badly on the church. Or how since Utah has such a high life expectancy rate then that means the WoW is magical. So I simply reiterated what I have had to say to many people (mostly church members and exmormons) in the past that Utah =/= the Church.

Let's be real, like it or not, the Church is BIG in Utah. When the church threw its weight behind the gay conversion therapy ban, its fate was sealed. Why did the church even take a stand on the issue? There are so many other issues that the church remains quiet about, yet this one issue got it in gear to support a ban on this therapy. People who legitimately want to get help to help them deal with their feelings of same sex attraction now have to journey to another state to get this help. Yet, it's perfectly legal for a minor to get counseling to help them transition to another gender?? Why is the church silent on this sad fact?

Depends on where you are at in Utah to be honest. Most of the big cities in Utah with the exception of Provo is arguably not LDS and at this point the population that is LDS in the state is only a slight majority, I am sure the active LDS population can't be more than 40% of the state or less. Saying that the LDS church runs Utah is as ludicrous as saying that the Catholic church runs Maryland or Massachusetts.

[mahalanobis]

.... There is nothing currently going on that is worth entirely pissing off Babylon to the point where everything the Church owns will be seized. ...

I disagree. There is so much going on.

Let them have our property! Make them (Babylon) choose to take it from us.

We're here to choose. Let's make the choice clear. We need to stop being afraid of church membership numbers decreasing. That's fear.

[BeHealthy94]

I think that this is a matter of the church leadership of picking their battles. There is nothing currently going on that is worth entirely pissing off Babylon to the point where everything the Church owns will be seized. Having said that I think that there will be a day when something heinous is being asked of the leadership where they will make their stand. Already President Nelson is changing the focus from the Church to the Home and I fully believe that the entire point of Come Follow Me has been to introduce independent study and worship. Do I think that the church is too accommodating in some aspects sure I do. But, I think that given the spiritual knowledge that 15 Apostles have perhaps they are saving their fight for a battle that is worth the confiscation of all the temples, meeting houses, dis accreditation of BYU, loss of non-profit status, etc. Furthermore I think that it is clear that the State of Utah =/= the Church. Heck even the prophets are emphasizing that we are a global church and thus have been distancing themselves for the past few years from the US and it's culture. What with the separation from the BSA, future changing of hymns, etc.
So to answer your question as to what I am doing to be at peace; I am following the Spirit and remaining faithful to the Savior by giving His Apostles the benefit of the doubt.

I like your post.
The church seems to be more compliant to the world then combative for a reason. The church may be waiting till they have enough resources (money, real estate, power) to be sure that the fight that they do pick they will not lose.

[Claymore]

I may be wrong, but my view is this-

The church plays along with all of the world's shenanigans because it is afraid of losing status and acceptance throughout the world it fought so long to get. If the church went and spoke out against the world it would lose its precious non-profit incorporation and pay a large portion of its proceeds in TAXES. It may even get kicked out of certain countries or sued for its old fashioned, non-progressive ways. There, I said it. I think it is about status and money just like all corporations. I take solace in the fact that to me church is not the institution, but all the faithful members that make up what His true church really is. If we can separate the two I believe inner peace can be found.

We worship God through His son Jesus. The gospel has been restored. The Priesthood has been restored and decentralized so all worthy can receive it. It is no longer in the hands of a tribe of priests and a few selected by God Himself to perform its ordinances. The church does not exist without His people, priesthood, or gospel. We strive to live the laws of the gospel and perform its ordinances in righteousness. This does not require the institutional church.

The institutional church was set up according to the laws of the land and given the blessing of the state to practice its religion. My point is that the Lord's true church can and does exist in conjunction with the institutional church, but they are not the same thing.

Like all corporations the institutional church has become a beast of its own. It is bogged down by bureaucracy. It does not care for the members that make up the true church, but struggles for its own survival. It does what it must to survive. It tries to live according to the purposes from which it was created, but in today's world that is impossible. It would have to sacrifice too much. It is trying to walk a fine line between to opposing philosophies. In doing so it is crushing the people of the Lord's true church and losing itself by trying to pander to and be accepted by an ever changing world. It also loves the wealth and precious things it gained from the world. It is afraid to lose it and maybe even afraid of looking destitute in the eyes of the Lord. It foolishly believes that worldly success is evidence of the Lord's approval. It fails to realize that if it lives up to why it was created it would be adorned with the Spirit of the Lord, a thing more beautiful that any worldly treasure!

I morn for the current state of the church. I believe it sold itself trying to fulfill its purpose. I believe it is in bondage and must do what its false master bids or lose everything, a penalty it is unwilling to bear. I believe the saints are being overcome as prophesy foretold.

Claymore

[nightlight]

So, I saw where somebody else posted a question about "What the Church should do?", but this is more about what can or should WE do, as individuals and as families?

So to preface this question, I want to share that I do absolutley believe in the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the prophet, Joseph Smith. I believe that the priesthood was indeed restored and still exists in the Church and ONLY in the restored Gospel of Christ. I have seen miracles and I have seen prophetic leadership in action, both high and low.

Lately though, I am struggling to see the Lord's guiding hand in our Church's affairs.
This latest Gadianton assault on our liberties that is masked as a deadly illness is one that I would have expected more leadership from our ordained "Leaders". Instead, we see our church pandering to the world and having us all play along with the "Emperor's new cloths". Instead of divine counsel we are being spoken to about racism. Instead of condemning the latest outrage of gender bending, we are hearing about how homophobic we are and how we need to be more accepting. In short, instead of leadership and warnings to turn away from these falsehoods, the leadership is echoing what the world and media are already hammering into our heads on a daily basis.
We see a church that seems to care more about virtue signaling than actually providing charity to those who need it. (Starting off with giving a full and clear definition of what tithing actually is versus the tribal law we accept as tithing) This is hurting poor people around the world that have to make a choice on whether to feed their children or to pay tithing. Why do the GA's get compensated 6 figures when they have preached to us for years about unpaid ministry?
Why has the temple endowment been changed to something Disney would approve of, with the endowment being more gender neutral and less offensive towards feminism?

Now we have apostles that have made some very strange claims such as "masks and social distancing being true marks of charity" and that "homosexuality isnt a sin". Utah is one of only 14 states where therapy for individuals who would seek help to overcome their sexual attraction to their same sex is illegal. Yet, it's perfectly legal for a 12 year old to recieve "therapy" to help transition to the opposite gender? If you look at the other 13 states of who has outlawed this therapy it is all the blue states. Hardly any of the other southern Christian states have agreed to make this help illegal to obtain. Why are we in so much desperation to please the world?

I'm at a loss. My wife and I have wondered if the leaders of our church have offended God so much that they are not recieving revelation anymore and are instead relying on PR firms and opinion polls to dictate church policy. (Look how many changes to the handbook as of late)

I wonder if anybody here has any wisdom or experience in feeling the same? What are you doing to stay true to the Kingdom, while also recognizing that our leaders are not leading us according to God's will. (Or maybe they are, and I'm just wrong and arrogant to believe otherwise?)

I'm curious what others have to offer. Right now, we feel like we arent recieving good leadership. My wife has talked about taking our kids to another church so they can actually have interaction with other children and learn more about being a Christian, as our church has all but abandoned their stewardship to minister to the sheep all because of this worldwide lie. I'm loathe to do it because it's almost like waiving the white flag and giving up on the restored Gospel. (Dont get me wrong, we would NEVER join another religion or Christian church) But lately I am finding that I have more common beliefs with my baptists friends than I do the leaders of our own church. I am afraid to admit this as it can lead to being excommunicated. Such disagreements are not tolerated by leadership.

Please share anything you have felt impressed to do in these perilous times. For now, we are holding to the truths of the Gospel as found in the 4 standard works and original teachings of the Prophets. (Not the adulterated and edited books ok'd by the liberal committee's that ok church curriculum)

Good to see you!

( Remember...this scripture is after the Book of Mormon has gone through out the world)

2 nephi 28
"they have all gone stray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men."
________

Usderstand that church is not impervious.

This is for the best.

This is not ancient Israel, this isn't the old law. He changed the way we conduct ourselves...hence Peter, James, John not talking about themselves.

[Enlightenment]

I very much agree with the OP. It is very disappointing to see our leadership not enlightened to the current situation. However, where they all agree is that we are to follow Jesus Christ's example. If you recall there was apostasy even in Joseph Smiths day by very close friends and apostles. This is nothing new. They didn't always agree. Joseph Smith as Gods prophet did lead the people. We can look to President Nelson the same way. Just know that he is not responsible for the actions of the apostles. Now it is people like you who very like are the very elect. Who will never take the mark or worship the beast. You are those who God put on earth at this time to lead. You do not need anyones permission. It is time for you to rise to your priesthood authority and in the name of Almighty God go forth and prepare the way for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Rise up and speak the word of truth fearlessly. If you have desired you are called to His work! History is about to be made. We are all on the same team. Team Jesus! Do you not recall when the apostles found some people casting out devils in Jesus Christ name and they told them to stop? Then Jesus said why? If they are not against us, they are with us. The apostles are not perfect! They make mistakes ALL THE TIME. This doesn't mean they are not good people still on your same team. The scriptures are filled with imperfect examples like this. So do you need to listen to every word the apostles say? No, you listen to the Holy Ghost who is God's voice of truth. You don't need to wonder what to do next. God is clearly showing you the way. We can just agree to disagree with some things they say but still be unified in our love for God and Christ. Love will get us there and will never fail. We may die showing our love to God and so be it. Let us have God be: "Well pleased." With us in the end. We are on the right track. We are in it together. Team Jesus. Let's do this!

[mac]

Go read Russel nelsons message to the world called "Gratitude" take up that 96 year olds promise, put his words into action for you and my family my brother.
Hold fast to that faith you have for it is most precious in the sight of your Father in heaven.....

I watched it. Wow. Guess you didnt read about my concerns? The video is a puff piece about feeling grateful during this "pandemic". This is precisely the messaging that I take issue with. Why are we calling this a pandemic when its mortality rate is the same as the flu?(1 percent) Why are civil liberties being stripped from us and we are applauding the governments of the world for them doing so? Where is the voice of warning telling us about this latest Gadianton scheme?

Vaccine?? Have you seen what is happening around the world to people who are taking these rushed vaccines? The way it sounded, church leadership is going to require us to show proof of vaccination for the Rona to obtain a temple recommend.

Not drinking the koolaid here.

I read your laments and do feel for you, its a trieing time for all the earth, cast all your cares apon Jesus for He cares for you, please be still and know that He is your God closer than any brother to you, please read Russels message again with a humble prayerfull mindset, ask God concerning the simple message there in, exercise but a particle of faith and put his kindly pleas into action and Jesus Christ your closest friend will swiftly bless you for it, gone will be the troubles and worries that have beset you, replaced with peace of mind knowing that Jesus stands in the midst of the Saints.
Being thankfull to the lord for what mercies wether great and small he has given us is but an easy yoke to bear at this time my friend......

[Luke]

This latest Gadianton assault on our liberties that is masked as a deadly illness is one that I would have expected more leadership from our ordained "Leaders".

Nice pun

Please share anything you have felt impressed to do in these perilous times.

Read books by people like Ogden Kraut and Lynn Bishop

Oh and be as spiritually prepared as possible. Are you ready to do anything, including to pack a bag and leave in an instant if the Spirit tells you to?

[Juliet]

The mony lenders in the temple, isn't that like the stock market? Of course. Tithing money would be in the temple treasury and from there the church could make usary off of it. And these main banks and corporations and babylonian exchanges literally bind the church to whatever makes them the most money. Lightbulb. We have lost our church because of the money bribing. We need to do to the church what Jesus did to the temple. Church investments to the stock exchanges (money lenders) have crippled righteousness. How....most likely money laundering. The stock market Is the great and spacious building. Founded on wickedness and lies so as to get more money. And it is going to fall and great shall be the fall of it. The church will fall with it unless they free themselves of this bondage.

What am I doing? Keeping refuge from the storms that are in the world. I am hoping that Jesus is coming soon. When Jesus came to the Nephites, Nephi was called by name by Jesus. Before Jesus came he was helping strengthen the faith of others and having spiritual blessings poured out on him. He heard from he voice of Jesus and was ministered to by angels. I think we can build personal faith right now so we will be ready to live when Jesus comes.

[Thinker]

... The video is a puff piece about feeling grateful during this "pandemic". This is precisely the messaging that I take issue with. Why are we calling this a pandemic when its mortality rate is the same as the flu?(1 percent) Why are civil liberties being stripped from us and we are applauding the governments of the world for them doing so? Where is the voice of warning telling us about this latest Gadianton scheme?...

Nelson’s telling everyone to be thankful instead of calling out corruption reminded me of this:



On a more serious note, we need to actively defend against psychological warfare - which we are facing. Some things I’m trying:

*Pray often
*Read uplifting words - scriptures, philosophy etc (I collected my favorites)
*Before bed & 1st thing in the morning, practice hopeful affirmations.
*Eat healthy, keep hydrated
*Exercise - especially outside - get vitamin D good for body & mind
*Be a good friend - reach out to others, listen.
*Have family church together - scripture, sing hymns, discuss an uplifting message.

[samizdat]

So, I saw where somebody else posted a question about "What the Church should do?", but this is more about what can or should WE do, as individuals and as families?

Fair question. First thing, live the gospel. Do what is right, let the consequences follow.

So to preface this question, I want to share that I do absolutley believe in the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the prophet, Joseph Smith. I believe that the priesthood was indeed restored and still exists in the Church and ONLY in the restored Gospel of Christ. I have seen miracles and I have seen prophetic leadership in action, both high and low.

As have I.

Lately though, I am struggling to see the Lord's guiding hand in our Church's affairs.
This latest Gadianton assault on our liberties that is masked as a deadly illness is one that I would have expected more leadership from our ordained "Leaders". Instead, we see our church pandering to the world and having us all play along with the "Emperor's new cloths". Instead of divine counsel we are being spoken to about racism. Instead of condemning the latest outrage of gender bending, we are hearing about how homophobic we are and how we need to be more accepting. In short, instead of leadership and warnings to turn away from these falsehoods, the leadership is echoing what the world and media are already hammering into our heads on a daily basis.
We see a church that seems to care more about virtue signaling than actually providing charity to those who need it. (Starting off with giving a full and clear definition of what tithing actually is versus the tribal law we accept as tithing) This is hurting poor people around the world that have to make a choice on whether to feed their children or to pay tithing. Why do the GA's get compensated 6 figures when they have preached to us for years about unpaid ministry?
Why has the temple endowment been changed to something Disney would approve of, with the endowment being more gender neutral and less offensive towards feminism?

I understand your frustration towards the changes. The Church is transitioning more towards a global institution rather than one that has historically favored one nation and its culture above others. Racism has been a past problem and is a problem, not only in the States but globally. I don't see where the Church leaders have come out and said we are homophobes. Yes, we need to understand more what those going through SSA are going through. Yes, basic principles of the Gospel need to be taught more. Yes, the Church needs to come clean about its past (and its present).

Now we have apostles that have made some very strange claims such as "masks and social distancing being true marks of charity" and that "homosexuality isnt a sin". Utah is one of only 14 states where therapy for individuals who would seek help to overcome their sexual attraction to their same sex is illegal. Yet, it's perfectly legal for a 12 year old to recieve "therapy" to help transition to the opposite gender? If you look at the other 13 states of who has outlawed this therapy it is all the blue states. Hardly any of the other southern Christian states have agreed to make this help illegal to obtain. Why are we in so much desperation to please the world?

The Apostles explained the mask and social distancing thing very well in my opinion. If you truly love others like you say you do, you would not want them to get sick and die because we decided to be careless. For some of my own family members it is indeed mask it or casket. If I am not careful, and I give the virus to a few family members who are particularly vulnerable, and they die, it will have been my fault. Now there are others that are NOT in that same position. Good for them. But for those around us, who we come into contact with, for the love of God, let's put on the masks.

People literally went thousands of miles to the Temple in the pioneer days without complaint. Literally crossing over raging seas, snowy mountains, endless plains, and sandswept deserts to get to the Temple. Today with the temple within walking distance for some, and a less than 20 minute driving distance for others, you don't want to go to the temple because you have to put an extra piece of clothing on? I'm sorry, but comparing the current plight, with that of the pioneers, is absolutely ridiculous, and shows the weakness of our faith.

Little by little I am starting to see why the Gentiles are prophesied in the Book of Mormon to get swept off and only a remnant left to support the House of Israel. Literally the rest of the world understands that sacrifices needs to be made. The only people I have seen rebelling against the current directives, are the American members. Progmos on the left and Wahhabi wannabes on the right.

I'm at a loss. My wife and I have wondered if the leaders of our church have offended God so much that they are not recieving revelation anymore and are instead relying on PR firms and opinion polls to dictate church policy. (Look how many changes to the handbook as of late)

They are receiving revelation still. It is a LOT quieter than it has been in the past, I will admit that. But you have several things going on behind the scenes, and lots of stuff has been revealed.

I wonder if anybody here has any wisdom or experience in feeling the same? What are you doing to stay true to the Kingdom, while also recognizing that our leaders are not leading us according to God's will. (Or maybe they are, and I'm just wrong and arrogant to believe otherwise?)

I do understand you. Just be patient. I feel like we are still being led by prophets that are inspired. But there are many that are without understanding, though no fault of their own.

I'm curious what others have to offer. Right now, we feel like we arent recieving good leadership. My wife has talked about taking our kids to another church so they can actually have interaction with other children and learn more about being a Christian, as our church has all but abandoned their stewardship to minister to the sheep all because of this worldwide lie. I'm loathe to do it because it's almost like waiving the white flag and giving up on the restored Gospel. (Dont get me wrong, we would NEVER join another religion or Christian church) But lately I am finding that I have more common beliefs with my baptists friends than I do the leaders of our own church. I am afraid to admit this as it can lead to being excommunicated. Such disagreements are not tolerated by leadership.

Do it. Let your kids know that there are other faiths out there. Don't limit yourself to the different Christian faiths though. Go to the synagogues, the mosques, and the temples of the religions of the East. You will find many things, and your own faith will be strengthened more.

Please share anything you have felt impressed to do in these perilous times. For now, we are holding to the truths of the Gospel as found in the 4 standard works and original teachings of the Prophets. (Not the adulterated and edited books ok'd by the liberal committee's that ok church curriculum)

For one thing, I have been studying up on many other religions. First started with Judaism, then other branches of Christianity, then Islam, now Buddhism, Shinto, and Hinduism (most of my English students now are from South and East Asia). Taking what's good, eschewing the bad. One really learns a lot. When the prophets tell us to get a global perspective, THIS is what they mean. They do not mean get cozy with the Gadiantons. It is more like learn about the faiths of others, see how they solve problems, follow the best practices, and make our own faiths better as a result.

[iWriteStuff]

I wanted, further, to include the following about the visit of "President" Nelson with the Pope. Please pay particular attention to how the Pope is addressed versus how "President" Nelson is addressed:

That's a lot of deference for a guy in a dress.