Orthodox Christian

Thank you Calm, but you don't have to do that. I have read enough. Seems to me that the person who created this film used a tragic event to air contoversies. And to what end, to satisfy himself that he got it out there imo. From what I have read, these controversies are already out there, so I suspect this film satisfied his own need. Something that he felt driven to do. All church traditions have sad actions and events in their past that are uncomfortable when studied through our modern prism. Protestants and Catholics have been attacking each other for years for example. It seems to be a sad facet of our human nature that as Christians we cannot "abide in love"

Hi Calm, thank you for responding. I would have to watch it again, not sure I'm up to that.

Hello everyone, and may I wish you all a blessed Easter. For us Orthodox it is only the second week of Great Lent, Easter for us is in early May, but I wish you all the blessing of this holy season. Thank you so much for all the replies to this topic. As an outsider I had no idea of the events depicted in this TV series. Had I not Googled it after the first episode, I would have dismissed it as sensationalism, however, after Googling I decided to carry on watching. I have to say, I didn't really notice the eerie music. And the devout young policeman's piety didn't bother me. I have no problem with pius devotion as long as it is sincere. As for the content, the extremism of the Lafferty men was a surprise, it seems they were radicalised, and of course I have heard stories of fundamentalist LDS. What surprised me more was the status that polygamy held within the early LDS church. I suppose in that context I could see their point that it should never have been repudiated, given that it was said to have been a commandment of God and part of his restored church. However, the incestuous practices that the Lafferty's were said to have espoused were shocking. Also the idea of atonement by blood spilling, which the poor young woman and her innocent baby suffered was beyond awful. And stories of massacres etc were also a shock. I don't know how strong that doctrine was, nor if the tales of mass killings are true, but from an outside point of view it didn't give a very favourable view of your church. And then the colour controversy... It seems that whoever made the series wanted or maybe needed for context to revisit some of the most contraversial aspects of LDS church history. I just don't know how much was exaggerated, but I did find it disturbing.

Hello there, i have watched it all. I know its a dramatisation but i found it very disturbing.

Thank you

Good morning. I have just watched this series and was wondering if a discussion thread on it exists here. I don't want to open a thread if it is ole ground. Thank you

I believe some people here are familiar with Orthodox priest Josiah Trentham. He has posted a video entitled Forbidden Blessings on You Tube. He addresses this topic from the perspective of an Orthodox priest, and also explains how important blessings really are. And how important it is not only to bless in accordance with God's law, but also to withhold blessings in situations which are outside God's law. The giving of priestly blessings is extremely important pastorally as is withholding them. The priest who blesses sin, in any form of course will answer to God. I recommend the video, even if it only to show that blessings should not be given lightly, nor to affirm someone in sin.

Sorry its only the first oart of the post that I wanted to quote. Its interesting that St Paul expanded this theme at least in relation to God's sovereignty. See Romans 10-22 and Isaiah 45:9

Thank you all for your condolences.

Not that I am aware of, but l'm not sure being a member of a church helps or compounds the problem. And I think there is a difference between being a member of a church and having a living faith.

Yes I can see that from a religious perspective, but I don't think religion was an issue here. But your post demonstrates that religion also can lead someone to despair.

Seeking, your reply keeps coming back to me. If we believe that we were created in God's image, is there some sort of inbuilt intuition that something we are doing is wrong? I am thinking here of our conscience which can shame us. Our society in the west is pretty secular, humanist, and easy going as far as sexual behaviour goes, but the most permissive society cannot stop us feeling shamed when we know that certain behaviours would be repulsive to our loved ones, that these behaviours might lead them to turn away from us. All the treatment and understanding in the world might not convince us if we know by our shame that what we is doing is wrong and disgusting as far as they are concerned. It's our nearest and dearest that matter the most, we might be able to face up to society, but we might not be able to look those closest to us in the face. Of course for those of us who follow a religious tradition it is before God that we feel ashamed, but we hope for forgiveness through repentence, but our loved ones might find forgiveness difficult as well as trusting that you will give up the behaviour. And breaking with the addiction can be horribly difficult if feelings of shame and worthlessness lead to bleak despair. I guess true forgiveness is the answer that can lead to healing.

Thank you I will listen to it.

Good morning everyone. Strange title isnt it? But it is one that carries a world of sadness. A young husband and father known to me, one of the sweetest, and kindest of young men, a devoted husband and father has recently been found drowned in what appears to be an act of suicide. It was known amongst his close friends that he was struggling with/against pornography. How could it get such a grip on someone, how could this happen, couldn't he get help? These are the questions we are all asking. This is where malice comes in, because pornography is something that is sniggered about and not seen for the menace that it is. Like any addiction, it may have commenced years before with serrupticiously watching this stuff, or maybe watching openly with friends. But no one knows who is susceptible to addiction, as with alcohol, out of a group of drinkers no one knows who or why some of them will succumb to addiction and the rest are untouched. But this decent young man succumbed. I think his very decency led to mental torture for him, resulting in shame, guilt, turmoil and feelings of unworthiness to be a husband and father. Pornography is a curse, and so I beg all of you, if you know anyone who indulges in it, please encourage them to find help or it could lead them to corruption of their mind and to mental hell and self destruction. It really is heartbreaking.

Good morning everyone. Strange title isnt it? But it is one that carries a world of sadness. A young husband and father known to me, one of the sweetest, and kindest of young men, a devoted husband and father has recently been found drowned in what appears to be an act of suicide. It was known amongst his close friends that he was struggling with/against pornography. How could it get such a grip on someone, how could this happen, couldn't he get help? These are the questions we are all asking. This is where malice comes in. Like any addiction, it may have commenced years before with serrupticiously watching this stuff, or maybe watching openly with friends. But no one knows who is susceptible to addiction, as with alcohol, out of a group of drinkers no one knows who or why some of them will succumb to addiction and the rest are untouched. But this decent young man succumbed. I think his very decency led to mental torture for him, resulting in shame, guilt, turmoil and feelings of unworthiness to be a husband and father. Pornography is a curse, and so I beg all of you, if you know anyone who indulges in it, please encourage them to find help or it could lead them to corruption of their mind and to mental hell and self destruction. It really is heartbreaking.

This is really interesting. This parable for me is perhaps my favorite, because of what it teaches us about God. Some years ago I was at a seminar which discussed this parable and the speaker told us of an ancient Jewish custom. Apparently if a son dishonored his father he would be cast out of his father's house and the villagers would cast him out of the village, kicking his belongings out after him. He could never return, there could be no forgiveness. The speaker said that this was a well known tradition in Judaism, therefore he assumed that the Lord would be aware of it, which would make this parable rather shocking to its hearers, because He turned their thinking upside down. The father in the parable,who Christ is showing, has being dreadfully wronged by his son who, by asking for his inheritance, is wishing him dead. This is almost a crime against the commandment to honour your Father and mother. However, Christ is also showing what God is like, and how different He is to His creatures. He shows us that the father sees his prodigal son approaching from a distance and he knows him immediately, it's almost as if he has been watching for him. In response, this venerable man hoiks up his garments and belts cross the field to grab hold of his filthy, probably smelly son, and embraces him. He wraps him in forgiveness despite how grosse he looks due the covering of grime all over him. The son is repentant and willing to live as his father's servant, but the father restores him to his former status. The father cleans him and puts clean garments on him, and a ring on his finger, and orders a feast because he who was dead has returned to life. This shows the depth of God's love, mercy and forgiveness and the cleansing work that He performs through the Holy Spirit in us in order for us once again to become his children. If we humble ourselves and repent and hand our lives over to Him, then He in His infinite goodness responds in love. For me this parable is the most encouraging and hopeful for Christians because Christ Himself is demonstrating Who God is, Who He is and that He stands at the door knocking, waiting for our response so that He can heal us, and being the Author and Finisher of our faith, save us.

To me, reverence with regard to God is something on which I frequently miss the mark. For me, God is beyond my intellect, I can't grasp Him, His Holiness is unfathomable to me. I think because of this I flounder. Therefore, for me, the greatest way I can show anything near reverence for God is, aside from attending the liturgy is to draw near to Him in silence. To be still and know that He is God, and in silence allow my soul to commune with Him.

Christ is risen, Glorify Him!

A very happy, peaceful and blessed Easter to all of you.