LDS Freedom Forum

Posted: **September 30th, 2023, 3:05 pm**

JuneBug12000 wrote: ↑September 30th, 2023, 11:58 am
Blue Marble wrote: ↑September 30th, 2023, 8:50 am
Atrasado wrote: ↑September 28th, 2023, 4:57 pm The Church was meant to be true, but it's had some problems. Why? I would think it's three things. Infiltration by cabalists (tares). Problems with the members' worldliness. Problems with the leaders.

When did it start? A long time ago, I think.

What do about it? Wait on the Lord. Call on his holy name. Do the best that we know how.
The Lord doesn’t want us to passively wait on Him. We must organize, Zion must be built.
I struggle with the balance between what we are to do and what God does for us.

Over and over the Lord gives freely, "consider the lilies of the field" "manna from heaven" "grace" "His yoke is easy and his burden is light.". But then in application I hear so many say how hard we must work and sacrifice.

There have definitely been times when I have pushed and pushed only to have the Lord kindly show me that it was -all- Him.

I do believe we are to act instead of being acted upon. But sometimes the work is in what we don't do, but endure. That is the trial. We endured in not taking the shot. We endured in not changing our faith with the LDS church, but continuing in the teaching of Christ.

When my husband lost his job last year I got a job. The Lord told me to quit, I couldn't believe that was right. So he made me sick with an illness that left me, after over week of not being able to leave bed, to be able to be around my house and care for my kids, but not drive or look at a screen as needed for my work. I had to quit. For 9 months the Lord miraculously paid our bills (not the church or gov welfare) just money deposited in our accounts as needed. He also hade stop paying tithing as the LDS church says about 5 years ago.

Each of these has been a do less, not do more, and let God unfold his plan.

I have wanted for some time to build Zion. In the end, it was the Lord who miraculously found us some like minded people. And the harder I pushed, the more the Lord told me to rest.

Even recently I was trying to correct health problems and lose weight and the Lord to me to stop. And just live and he would fix it. Once I stopped trying, most of the health effects left and my weight has leveled off. Not exactly where I want to be, but the Spirit whispers their is purpose. So I trust Him.

Does the Lord want us to passively wait on him? Does the Lord want us to organize? Does the Lord want us to build Zion?

We each have to ask Him that for ourselves, but right now, the Lord is telling me to be still and know that He is God. To see the majesty of the Lord's power unfold.

I can respect that other may get a different answer.

I love this. And I've been embracing this idea recently. But there's this nagging bit of questioning myself, like am I being deceived? Could the Lord really want me to be doing/worrying less? Would it really be right to cut myself some slack on my battle with my weaknesses? Or is it just Satan trying to get me to do less? It's this inner battle because it flies in the face of what I grew up being taught.

I want so badly for this to be right, for the Lord to really want me to relax. Life and the LDS-Corp gospel have gotten so overwhelming and stressful for me that it doesn't even seem enjoyable much less joyful. I hope it really is God inviting me to let go a bit.

I will say that as I've focused more on Christ and seeking truth, and emotionally distanced myself from the church, I have felt happier. Certainly less burdened.

Posted: **September 30th, 2023, 3:33 pm**

I think the church has made the gospel far too complicated. Christ’s gospel is really quite simple. There’s a reason He gave a first and second great commandment.

Posted: **September 30th, 2023, 5:49 pm**

Reluctant Watchman wrote: ↑September 30th, 2023, 3:33 pm I think the church has made the gospel far too complicated. Christ’s gospel is really quite simple. There’s a reason He gave a first and second great commandment.

When men get involved then they insert themselves and make everything about them.
God's system is too simple for most people. They want it complicated.

Posted: **September 30th, 2023, 7:18 pm**

Nothing I will ever write to you will ever be enough

now you know how I feel

Posted: **September 30th, 2023, 8:31 pm**

Telavian wrote: ↑September 30th, 2023, 5:49 pm
Reluctant Watchman wrote: ↑September 30th, 2023, 3:33 pm I think the church has made the gospel far too complicated. Christ’s gospel is really quite simple. There’s a reason He gave a first and second great commandment.
When men get involved then they insert themselves and make everything about them.
God's system is too simple for most people. They want it complicated.

and they want it regulated. Highly regulated.

Decades ago, i remember talking with an old timer that owned a pharmacy in a small utah town. He remembered the day when the church divided the people by commanding that they could no longer drink alcohol. (no temple recommend if one drinks). He said that on weekends, there would be square dancing etc and public gatherings and many would drink . it was the old days of cowboys, farming etc. . When they changed the guidance to a commandment it divided people . Eventually the weekend gatherings of the town ended and everyone just stayed home and lines were drawn .

The church is now sterilized. Regulated to the point that it becomes everyone judging everyone. Fault finding, back talking, while...all the time smiling in church together as if everyone loves each other. Sad situation.

Appearances are everything. The church today is a false image.

Posted: **October 1st, 2023, 4:53 am**

Telavian wrote: ↑September 28th, 2023, 9:14 am "The church is the organized body of believers who have taken upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ by baptism and confirmation. To be the true church it must be the Lord’s church and must have His laws, His name, and be governed by Him through representatives whom He has appointed"
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... h?lang=eng

This definition, almost word for word, is the same one used by Jehovah's Witnesses. I always like the last part about "governed by Him through representatives whom He has appointed". In our Church, as in the JW's church, those appointed are announced by those previously appointed, who were announced by those who were appointed before them, and so on. Have we ever been surprised by the actual intervention of the Lord in appointing His servants? I don't think so.

LDS Freedom Forum

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Re: “The church is true, but the leaders are imperfect.”