Pres. Monson Speaking On Current Events

[thesometimesaint]

While not the most recent pronouncements, President Hinckley did speak out about the movie "Chicago", and President Monson complained about the Beatles...*

 

 

*Yes, I know he was quoting someone.

 

Every older generation has complained about the younger generation since there was an older generation.

[wenglund]

The difficulty in Church leaders commenting much on current events, particularly those events of a highly political nature, is that it may inadvertently politicize the Church in a way that might impede fulfilling the mission of the Church. This may be why they tend to chose private actions over public words, substance over form, as in the case with the starving and displaced Christian in Iraq.

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[Storm Rider]

I am not so much an advocate or desirous that the prophet speaks about current events so much as the prophet speaking to the world at large.  Too often it seems that the General Conference talks are delivered as if he is speaking just to members.  I have always felt that this is an unnecessary limiting of scope rather than being the prophet for the whole world.  There are times when he should speak to the Church itself and other times when it would be better to speak to the world at large.  

 

What topic would a prophet address to the world at large?  Surely he would find something of value to say that leads all to Christ.  

[Coreyb]

I am not so much an advocate or desirous that the prophet speaks about current events so much as the prophet speaking to the world at large.  Too often it seems that the General Conference talks are delivered as if he is speaking just to members.  I have always felt that this is an unnecessary limiting of scope rather than being the prophet for the whole world.  There are times when he should speak to the Church itself and other times when it would be better to speak to the world at large.  

 

What topic would a prophet address to the world at large?  Surely he would find something of value to say that leads all to Christ.  

well, since GC is the general conference of the Church, perhaps it is appropriate that the sermons are focused on us. That shouldn't stop the prophets from speaking in other venues to the World, kinda like the Pope does, or like Jeffrey Holland speaking to law students at Harvard. I would love to see more stuff like that

[MiserereNobis]

Why shouldn't the *only* prophet in the world speak to the world outside of general conference?

 

I don't get the hesitation about this.

[Stargazer]

They are prophets for the membership only, it seems. And sometimes it's just to keep things in check. Not that they have never had good messages about the Saviour or love, but it would seem that our church could come out against say, human trafficking, or other current atrocities. Or might that put a target on our missionaries? Ok, take back what I said. And add, it could be a reason to not publish financial statements.

I don't know that they are prophets for the membership only. But what kind of credence does Pres. Monson have with anyone not a member of the Church? Even Pres. Hinckley, who was seen nationally courtesy of Larry King, said nothing that was particularly forthright in respect of world events. I am not sure this is even necessary. I mean, is there a large contingent of people who think human trafficking is just hunky-dory? Who needs to be told that war is bad? It would be a case of Captain Obvious rides again.

Now, when the time comes that the Lord needs the Prophet to say things about the end times approaching, and so on, then I expect he will say them. I don't think there's a need for it now.

[Stargazer]

Why shouldn't the *only* prophet in the world speak to the world outside of general conference?

 

I don't get the hesitation about this.

Why do you think there's hesitation involved?

Prophets aren't necessarily supposed to follow their own programs. Wasn't it Balaam who was paid by the enemies of the Camp of Israel to come and curse them, but found that he couldn't do so? When Jonah was too afraid to preach repentance to Nineveh, and fled, didn't the Lord step in to encourage him to follow the Lord's program instead of his own? The Lord has a program -- even Catholics believe this, right? You may consider the Pope to be the one in this case to deliver prophecy, but the principle is the same. And I don't hear the Pope saying anything about current events that isn't already glaringly obvious.

In fact, the *only* prophet (actually one of fifteen sustained as such), is speaking to the world when he speaks at General Conference. It may be true that not everyone in the world tunes in when he speaks, but due to modern technology it is certainly possible that almost every person on earth could tune in. The conference is in fact offered in enough languages that most of the world could hear the word in their own language, or at least a language they can understand. And the most important word to speak to the world is this: Have Faith in Jesus Christ and Repent! And that word is spoken in many clever and clear ways every six months. If the world isn't listening, that's hardly Pres. Monson's fault.

I do remember that when Ezra Taft Benson became President of the Church that there were lots of Liberal and Conservative Mormons who were either cringing or anticipating that he would really unload about political matters. And he either relieved or disappointed them all by instead beginning a program of emphasis to the Book of Mormon. Presumably because that is what the Lord wanted him to do, and he was not the sort of man to insist upon his own program when the Lord needed him to do something else.

Edited August 16, 2014 by Stargazer

[Tiki]

Why shouldn't the *only* prophet in the world speak to the world outside of general conference?

 

I don't get the hesitation about this.

It's obvious the New Testament is full of the rants Jesus Christ made against the wars and oppressions made by Caesar. It consumed His entire life as he had to respond to every news story to the point He forgot why He was sent here.