More Important Than Ever!

[BookofMormonLuvr]

A member recently posted this line in a message...

"In these last days it is more important than ever that we follow the Prophet."

My question is "Why?" Why is it "more important than ever"?

[stemelbow]

A member recently posted this line in a message...

"In these last days it is more important than ever that we follow the Prophet."

My question is "Why?" Why is it "more important than ever"?

it's not. Far more important to follow the Spirit.

I imagine this member has something about SSM on mind when stating this.

Edited July 1, 2015 by stemelbow

[CV75]

A member recently posted this line in a message...

"In these last days it is more important than ever that we follow the Prophet."

My question is "Why?" Why is it "more important than ever"?

 

Alma 34: 32-33

  32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

  33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

[Mystery Meat]

A member recently posted this line in a message...

"In these last days it is more important than ever that we follow the Prophet."

My question is "Why?" Why is it "more important than ever"?

 

You have a point; a good one. I think it is ALWAYS important to follow the prophet, and I am not sure today it is any more important than it was in Nephi's time, JS's time or Moses's time. If the "spirit" is telling you not to follow the prophet, you should probably check which spirit that is, because it is NOT the Holy Ghost.

[The Nehor]

A member recently posted this line in a message..."In these last days it is more important than ever that we follow the Prophet."

My question is "Why?" Why is it "more important than ever"?

Because the prophet leads us to eternal life. Not sure why that is more important now but still important.

[Bobbieaware]

A member recently posted this line in a message..."In these last days it is more important than ever that we follow the Prophet."

My question is "Why?" Why is it "more important than ever"?

It's because the scriptures prophesy that in the last days, especially in the remaining years leading up to the Second Coming, the powers of deception of the devil will be become so great and so apparently persuasive that even the very elect (those with the greatest testimonies and most steadfast integrity) could be drawn away toward the dark side. Another reason is that the tares within the church will be approaching full maturity and in that ripeness of iniquity they will be emboldened to come out into the open in an attempt to lead the elect astray. The powers of deception will become so great that the only way to safely navigate the treacherous waters of tribulation will be to follow the prophets as lights pointing the way toward safety in the deadliest of storms.

Edited July 1, 2015 by Bobbieaware

[BookofMormonLuvr]

It's because the scriptures prophesy that in the last days, especially in the remaining years leading up to the Second Coming, the powers of deception of the devil will be become so great and so apparently persuasive that even the very elect (those with the greatest testimonies and most steadfast integrity) could be drawn away toward the dark side. Another reason is that the tares within the church will be approaching full maturity and in that ripeness of iniquity they will be emboldened to come out into the open in an attempt to lead the elect astray. The powers of deception will become so great that the only way to safely navigate the treacherous waters of tribulation will be to follow the prophets as lights pointing the way toward of safety in the deadliest of storms.

But it seems there are many religious leaders warning about the deceptions that are abounding in these last days. Is the implication that we would utterly fail to recognize them without a LDS church leader pointing them out? If one is conversant with the scriptures couldn't he still recognize the darkness coming upon the earth. What extra-something does the Prophet teach about these days that couldn't be recognized by feasting upon the words of Christ?

Edited July 1, 2015 by BookofMormonLuvr

[cinepro]

A member recently posted this line in a message...

"In these last days it is more important than ever that we follow the Prophet."

My question is "Why?" Why is it "more important than ever"?

 

It's always "more important than ever." 

[Stone holm]

It is based on this somewhat delusional concept that civilization is currently more comparable to Sodom and Gomorrah than say at the time of Joseph Smith (when some Americans still owned slaves and flogged them at will)  or at mid-20th Century (when people were being lynched with impunity down South, Jews had just been gassed by the millions, and Europeans fresh from slaughtering each other by the millions, were seriously contemplating turning the Earth into a giant radioactive mud-ball) or thirty years ago when homosexuals were dropping like flies from AIDS and we kind of didn't care.  This notion that although we are living about 10 years longer, the air and water are cleaner, the violent crime rate in many urban areas is actually down, more people are literate, and we have learned how to conduct our wars with tremendously fewer civilian casualties, we are going to Hades in a handbasket is primarily based I think on the fact that we invented the birth control pills and women are now as casual about sex as men always were -- so if sex is your only criteria, then yup, we are going to Hade in a handbasket.  On the other hand, if you were to base it on say the percentage of parents who show up a their children's sporting events, I think you might conclude that we were approaching Zion.  But, then if you were to look at how many parents are divorcing while they still have minor kids, instead of kicking the bum out shortly after the kids graduate from HS maybe we are.  But in general, I don't think the scaremongering about the downward spiral of civilization has much objective truth behind it -- if you say it often enough, however, people start believing it.

[Ahab]

A member recently posted this line in a message...

"In these last days it is more important than ever that we follow the Prophet."

My question is "Why?" Why is it "more important than ever"?

Because "the Prophet" (the presiding prophet on this Earth at any particular time, whoever he is) is the one we should be following, as if he were the Lord himself. Even if we also are prophets, or prophetesses, ourselves.

And more important than ever before because NoW is always the most important time, regardless of any time in the past or anything that ever happened in our past.

[Mystery Meat]

It is based on this somewhat delusional concept that civilization is currently more comparable to Sodom and Gomorrah than say at the time of Joseph Smith (when some Americans still owned slaves and flogged them at will)  or at mid-20th Century (when people were being lynched with impunity down South, Jews had just been gassed by the millions, and Europeans fresh from slaughtering each other by the millions, were seriously contemplating turning the Earth into a giant radioactive mud-ball) or thirty years ago when homosexuals were dropping like flies from AIDS and we kind of didn't care.  This notion that although we are living about 10 years longer, the air and water are cleaner, the violent crime rate in many urban areas is actually down, more people are literate, and we have learned how to conduct our wars with tremendously fewer civilian casualties, we are going to Hades in a handbasket is primarily based I think on the fact that we invented the birth control pills and women are now as casual about sex as men always were -- so if sex is your only criteria, then yup, we are going to Hade in a handbasket.  On the other hand, if you were to base it on say the percentage of parents who show up a their children's sporting events, I think you might conclude that we were approaching Zion.  But, then if you were to look at how many parents are divorcing while they still have minor kids, instead of kicking the bum out shortly after the kids graduate from HS maybe we are.  But in general, I don't think the scaremongering about the downward spiral of civilization has much objective truth behind it -- if you say it often enough, however, people start believing it.

 

So how do you sync your belief that the world is getting better (its not) with scripture and end of days prophecy?

[Bobbieaware]

It is based on this somewhat delusional concept that civilization is currently more comparable to Sodom and Gomorrah than say at the time of Joseph Smith (when some Americans still owned slaves and flogged them at will) or at mid-20th Century (when people were being lynched with impunity down South, Jews had just been gassed by the millions, and Europeans fresh from slaughtering each other by the millions, were seriously contemplating turning the Earth into a giant radioactive mud-ball) or thirty years ago when homosexuals were dropping like flies from AIDS and we kind of didn't care. This notion that although we are living about 10 years longer, the air and water are cleaner, the violent crime rate in many urban areas is actually down, more people are literate, and we have learned how to conduct our wars with tremendously fewer civilian casualties, we are going to Hades in a handbasket is primarily based I think on the fact that we invented the birth control pills and women are now as casual about sex as men always were -- so if sex is your only criteria, then yup, we are going to Hade in a handbasket. On the other hand, if you were to base it on say the percentage of parents who show up a their children's sporting events, I think you might conclude that we were approaching Zion. But, then if you were to look at how many parents are divorcing while they still have minor kids, instead of kicking the bum out shortly after the kids graduate from HS maybe we are. But in general, I don't think the scaremongering about the downward spiral of civilization has much objective truth behind it -- if you say it often enough, however, people start believing it.

"I testify that wickedness is rapidly expanding in every segment of our society. (See D&C 1:14–16; D&C 84:49–53.) It is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, AND MORE POWEFULLY PROMOTED THAN EVER BEFORE. Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world. (See Ether 8:18–25.)" (President Ezra Taft Benson)

So don't worry folks. What you can't see can't hurt you. (Elmer Fudd)

Edited July 1, 2015 by Bobbieaware

[Mystery Meat]

"I testify that wickedness is rapidly expanding in every segment of our society. (See D&C 1:14–16; D&C 84:49–53.) It is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, AND MORE POWEFULLY PROMOTED THAN EVER BEFORE. Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world. (See Ether 8:18–25.)" (President Ezra Taft Benson)

So don't worry folks. What you can't see can't hurt you. (Elmer Fudd)

 

Yeah, but President Benson was basically a racist, anti-communist, Bircher. He cannot be trusted. We have to take his counsel with a big grain of salt. I wonder if people who have actually used any of the following justifications for discounting prophetic counsel:

 

1. They are influenced by culture

2. They are infallible so how do we know if we can trust what they say

3. They were racist and not speaking as prophets

4. They did not say "Thus saith the Lord"

5. They have not received revelations for a long time

6. They have probably not seen Jesus so do not meet the biblical definition of apostles

 

realize that they sound exactly like the same people in scripture (which if I am to understand the critics and academics on this board were probably mostly not written by the people who we think wrote them, were written long after the events in question, and generally cannot be trusted as good sources) who rejected the prophets of old.

[stemelbow]

It's always "more important than ever."

It's never "more important than ever". We just like to tell ourselves the opposite because after all we are more important in our own minds.

[Stone holm]

Mystery Meat,  have never found it terribly astute to try and change the facts to make them fit a prophecy.

 

Bobbieaware, ETB also thought that the Civil Rights Movement was a Communist Conspiracy.

 

What I see is increased casualness towards sex, an increased divorce rate, and a concentration of wealth to an extent beyond what occurred during the Robber Baron Era.   On the other hand, I see tobacco and alcohol use down from prior generations -- dramatically down from Joseph Smith's era.   Drug use is up from what it was in the 1950's, but probably down from what it was in the 19th Century -- primary difference being it is now a Federal crime.   On the other hand, people are living longer, wars tend to kill fewer non-combatants, principal diseases are those which afflict civilizations with people who live longer, racism is way down, sexism is diminishing, the environment is getting better except for the climate, child labor is down, workplace maiming is way down.   My wife frequently does the "well its suppose to get worse at the end" thingy,  I then remind her what our parents generation did to each other in Europe and the Pacific and ask her just how was that better than today?  

 

I do believe, however, that the potential is there for things to get really, really bad -- religious wars can be incredibly vicious and we clearly have a religious war which rolling back and forth in the middle east, and we have those who would like to stir up religious strife in America by moving away from the secular basis of our laws.  This is what we should be worried about, not whether Bill can marry Joe, or whether I have to bake a cake for them.

[BookofMormonLuvr]

Mystery Meat,  have never found it terribly astute to try and change the facts to make them fit a prophecy.

 

Bobbieaware, ETB also thought that the Civil Rights Movement was a Communist Conspiracy.

 

What I see is increased casualness towards sex, an increased divorce rate, and a concentration of wealth to an extent beyond what occurred during the Robber Baron Era.   On the other hand, I see tobacco and alcohol use down from prior generations -- dramatically down from Joseph Smith's era.   Drug use is up from what it was in the 1950's, but probably down from what it was in the 19th Century -- primary difference being it is now a Federal crime.   On the other hand, people are living longer, wars tend to kill fewer non-combatants, principal diseases are those which afflict civilizations with people who live longer, racism is way down, sexism is diminishing, the environment is getting better except for the climate, child labor is down, workplace maiming is way down.   My wife frequently does the "well its suppose to get worse at the end" thingy,  I then remind her what our parents generation did to each other in Europe and the Pacific and ask her just how was that better than today?  

 

I do believe, however, that the potential is there for things to get really, really bad -- religious wars can be incredibly vicious and we clearly have a religious war which rolling back and forth in the middle east, and we have those who would like to stir up religious strife in America by moving away from the secular basis of our laws.  This is what we should be worried about, not whether Bill can marry Joe, or whether I have to bake a cake for them.

 

If you read the text of his, I believe, Conference talk on the subject- everything he stated is coming to pass. I encourage you to re-read it, in light of current events in our nation...

http://www.independentamericanparty.org/2015/01/civil-rights-tool-of-communist-deception-by-ezra-taft-benson-1969/

If anything, ETB was ahead of his time. Things just took longer to progress than he thought they would.

 

Edited July 1, 2015 by BookofMormonLuvr

[Mystery Meat]

Bobbieaware, ETB also thought that the Civil Rights Movement was a Communist Conspiracy.

 

Hahaha!

 

How many points do I get for pretty much nailing this?

[filovirus]

2 Nephi 28:21 "...All is well in Zion..."

 

2 Nephi 26:22 "...the devil... leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord..."

 

The second scripture I noted brings out the best imagery of how the devil works. It is true in Nephi's time and true in our time.

 

Listen to the prophet. His council is wise.

 

D&C 1:38 "...whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."

[Bobbieaware]

2 Nephi 28:21 "...All is well in Zion..."

 

2 Nephi 26:22 "...the devil... leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord..."

 

The second scripture I noted brings out the best imagery of how the devil works. It is true in Nephi's time and true in our time.

 

Listen to the prophet. His council is wise.

 

D&C 1:38 "...whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."

Bullseye!

[The Nehor]

It's always "more important than ever."

So logically right now is the least important time to follow the prophet compared to the rest of my life. Cool. Blowing off General Conference.

[KevinG]

It's always "more important than ever." 

 

Because the dead are past the point of following the living prophet.

[Tacenda]

 

This from a post on my FB feed.  What do you think?

[Tacenda]

 

If you read the text of his, I believe, Conference talk on the subject- everything he stated is coming to pass. I encourage you to re-read it, in light of current events in our nation...

http://www.independentamericanparty.org/2015/01/civil-rights-tool-of-communist-deception-by-ezra-taft-benson-1969/

If anything, ETB was ahead of his time. Things just took longer to progress than he thought they would.

 

Edited July 2, 2015 by Tacenda

[longview]

I loved reading ETB's book "An Enemy Hath Done This" (no question he was WAY ahead of his time and VERY insightful).

[The Nehor]

My grandfather was told as a child that he was part of a chosen generation and must prepare for the Second Coming. So were my parents. The Second Coming grows ever closer but I do not know if it will be in the next decade or in the days of my great great grandchildren.

Edited July 3, 2015 by The Nehor