A Stroll Through Exmormon.Com

[Helen47]

Everyday I check out both boards. I find this one sometimes interesting but otherwise predictable and boring. The other has some people who go over the top but they do have some interesting discussions. For example the discussion about the boat part owned I think by Joseph Smith. Chris Smith made the comment that the church leaders could have made themselves rich because of their position. Some mention was made about how "tithing" was deducted from the mens wages who worked on the boat. It was also more than 10%. Also I thought tithing was something one did oneself. Do LDS employees get their tithing deducted from their paypacket?

Also I have never heard unlike here of anyone getting kicked off. Droopy has countless threads on politics for his extreme conservative views. BSpace, I see you have made more than enough contributions there.

[rpn]

No, Mormons don't get their tithing deducted from their paycheck in the US. There may be other countries in which the way donations are paid does that, but it would not be because the church did the taking.

[CASteinman]

I'm not an ex-mo, but see how you might become an angry ex-mo. I try very hard not to become angry in my current condition, but see how it happens. People would never understand it until they've experienced it. I admit the side of me to obey everything that comes across the pulpit is now gone and I fear just a bit, that others will view my light diminishing. Yesterday, I attended a Southern Baptist church, it took several tries at various non LDS churches before I had the nerve to walk in. I sat through a sermon about that light, in 1st John chapter one. It was a full sermon on just a few verses! I was very light going out of there. The reason I went, is because I've been meaning to try out a few churches for a couple of years, yesterday was Stake Conference at a later time so I thought I'd try it. Then later went to Stake Conference, didn't feel as light afterwards. The whole of it was that we weren't doing enough. One stake leader was really harsh, I fear for those that take every admonition to heart and can't meet that expectation.

Jesus was harsh and did not typically do whole word-study sermons on a tiny snippet of scripture -- which is the love of those who consider the Bible to be perfect in minute granular yet supernatural detail.

But some people don't like it when someone harshes their calm. I know I don't. But that's how it is in the life of a disciple sometimes.

Edited April 17, 2013 by CASteinman

[Tacenda]

Jesus was harsh and did not typically do whole word-study sermons on a tiny snippet of scripture -- which is the love of those who consider the Bible to be perfect in minute granular yet supernatural detail.

But some people don't like it when someone harshes their calm. I know I don't. But that's how it is in the life of a disciple sometimes.

My last post of the day left to answer you, this talk was works based salvation to the nth degree. He actually said that you must pray daily, read scriptures daily and go to the temple or it wasn't enough. And he said it like you see a hell fire and damnation preacher would. Almost like he was trying to be like that. No mention of Grace at all. And to contrast that with my earlier experience was night and day, it was very Christ centered. Maybe if we turn it around and make it about Grace, people would run to the temple, scriptures and prayer out of gratitude. The other way is more a "you better do this or else" . Edited April 17, 2013 by Tacenda

[CASteinman]

My last quote of the day left to answer you, this sermon was works based salvation to the nth degree. He actually said that you must pray daily, read scriptures daily and go to the temple or it wasn't enough. And he said it like you see a hell fire and damnation preacher would. Almost like he was trying to be like that. No mention of Grace at all. And to contrast that with my earlier experience was night and day. Christ centered, maybe if we turn it around and make it about Grace, people would run to the temple, scriptures and prayer out of gratitude. The other way is more a "you better do this or else" .

But Salvation is dependant upon works. From start to end. Many many many works. We probably recline on sofa's more than either Jesus or the Father.

It is true, that if we preach what people want to hear they will like what we say more. And certainly, you collect more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Its not unreasonable to point out that we are not trying to collect flies -- but people. At the same time though, we should realize that some people are just not tuned to the same messages.

To condemn someone for not preaching enough "grace" is no better than to condemn someone by preaching a hell fire and brimstone sermon on works. Yes, it is different. Maybe feels better. But it is not actually superior.

Sometimes its not so easy to see our own faults when we are seeing them so hard in others.

[sheilauk]

And what one person hears as harsh, another may find to be just the stimulus they need to get going! We should try to remember that not all sermons/talks are meant for all the people who are listening. No talk can satisfy all the people all the time. In fact, a sermon may reach only one or two people, who really needed to hear those words. For example, I am single and childless. During one of the talks at General Conference this month, I walked out to take a break and stretch my legs as the talk was about how to have a good marriage - not something I want to hear about right now! But I don't object to the talk being given. I might need it in the future. The thing is not to take offense as none is intended, or to presume that others feel the same way as you do about it.