Why Don't Memebers Live the Law of Consecration Any More?

[Johnnie Cake]

I know that there were a few failed attempts in the 19th century to hold members accountable to actually live the Law of Consecration.  So why are members no longer required to live the Law of Consecration? What Changed?

[The Nehor]

Nothing changed. We failed so God withdrew the commandment and the blessings for it and gave us a lesser law with lesser commandments and blessings.

[Meadowchik]

Yup, and it's  stinkin' hard!

[Duncan]

let me ask you what do you do with your time? is your non downtime more than your...non down time? I just think we can live a consecrated life without being asked to and not "run faster than you have strength" but just have a more determined discipleship (Elder Neal A. Maxwell)

 

and what is more there is this talk by Elder Maxwell

 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2002/04/consecrate-thy-performance?lang=eng

Edited February 11, 2016 by Duncan

[Johnnie Cake]

2 minutes ago, Meadowchik said:

Yup, and it's  stinkin' hard!

Fair enough....but so is the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Tithing and I don't see the church making allowances on those commandment just because they are hard to live...so why an allowance on living the Law of Consecration?  Its a pretty important commandment...its even mentioned you know where...so why give everyone a pass in keeping it?

 

[The Nehor]

Just now, Duncan said:

let me ask you what do you do with your time? is your non downtime more than your...non down time? I just think we can live a consecrated life without being asked to and not "run faster than you have strength" but just have a more determined discipleship (Elder Neal A. Maxwell)

I think we can live much of the law of consecration now but part is being withheld until God in his wisdom restores it to us. Or we can pray for and seek it and likely hurry up the process.

[ksfisher]

Every member of the church is always welcome to consecrate their life to serving God.

[RevTestament]

14 minutes ago, Johnnie Cake said:

Fair enough....but so is the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Tithing and I don't see the church making allowances on those commandment just because they are hard to live...so why an allowance on living the Law of Consecration?  Its a pretty important commandment...its even mentioned you know where...so why give everyone a pass in keeping it?

I feel I have personally lived it. I have used much of my time to study and write in support of the gospel - essentially at my own financial expense. So even though I haven't gone and given away all my possessions, I have used them in forwarding the gospel. In the end I will give everything that I have. 

[JLHPROF]

1 hour ago, The Nehor said:

Nothing changed. We failed so God withdrew the commandment and the blessings for it and gave us a lesser law with lesser commandments and blessings.

This exactly.

God withdrew the commandment and the blessing.

(Just like polygamy  )

I think Brigham said somewhere that Consecration would be the last law lived and possibly not till we are forced to by circumstance.  Can't remember where I read that.

[rodheadlee]

1 hour ago, Johnnie Cake said:

Fair enough....but so is the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Tithing and I don't see the church making allowances on those commandment just because they are hard to live...so why an allowance on living the Law of Consecration?  Its a pretty important commandment...its even mentioned you know where...so why give everyone a pass in keeping it?

 

Each law has a blessing attached. If you don't live the law you don't get the blessing.

[The Nehor]

1 hour ago, Johnnie Cake said:

Fair enough....but so is the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Tithing and I don't see the church making allowances on those commandment just because they are hard to live...so why an allowance on living the Law of Consecration?  Its a pretty important commandment...its even mentioned you know where...so why give everyone a pass in keeping it?

 

Actually the Law of Tithing is the lesser law. As to chastity well we are living the lesser law. We are still allowed divorce which is permitted like in the time of Moses because of hardened hearts. If we find chastity too hard to live as is we may get a lesser law yet again.

God does not make allowances as you suggest. He withdraws commandments that people are unwilling to live to keep us from condemning ourselves along with the blessings of the law. It is the divine equivalent of not casting pearls before swine who will only destroy themselves with it.

If people truly want to live an even lesser law in regards to chastity they can. It is called being outside the LDS faith.

[Meadowchik]

2 hours ago, Johnnie Cake said:

Fair enough....but so is the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Tithing and I don't see the church making allowances on those commandment just because they are hard to live...so why an allowance on living the Law of Consecration?  Its a pretty important commandment...its even mentioned you know where...so why give everyone a pass in keeping it?

 

It's actually much more complex than those other things. You and your family might live it. Think of what an accomplishment that already is. But, to succeed, it's not just one family consecrating together but many. It's almost like being married to a bunch of other families.

We've tried an arrangement that may come closer to consecration than most people do, by trying to offer a mutually beneficial duplex arrangement with a family in our ward. Little by little, the family backed out of their side of the agreement. We gave them slack, were patient, understood their own obstacles until we realized the father intended they do nothing of their part, expecting us to do it all. It was then that the trust broke. We knew the friendship we'd hoped and risked for was a lie. Now we're stuck with this imbalanced situation for who knows how long.

We wanted to have this great life with them as our friends. Now it's horrible.

I'm sure there are others who've tried and faired much better and others who've had worse, but consecration is not just twice as "hard" as tithing, chastity, or the WOW. It not only can require those elements and others from individuals but also become geometrically more complex with each additional participant. Everyone and every family group must adjust to integrate another community member.The Church attempts to get closer to consecration with all we do in church involvement, but that's still shallow in comparison to the original law. Hopefully one day we as a Church can get there. But in the meantime, the Lord still provides us the means to progress.

Edited February 12, 2016 by Meadowchik

[Calm]

Same thing happened to my parents.  They gave up their home and made a one room apartment in their garage thinking that it would be like being adopted grandparents.  Then the people started renovating and tearing up the property without permission (inside looked good, but a beautiful brick fence was destroyed and just piles of dirt were left), the parents told their kids they could have no contact with them, they told lies at church about my parents and my parents ended up stuck back in the garage except when traveling unable to even use the backyard to sit in (it was trashed with piles of building materials and the stunning garden Mom and Dad had worked on and nursed through droughts and stuff was just left to die) and attempting to save the pool by sneaking in chemicals at night to keep the algae and other stuff down.

Thankfully they had gotten some sort of contract through the dad's work where if they defaulted it would be paid for at a good value by the company and when the default came, my parents were covered.  But it ruined their last years in a ward that had been their home and started out their retirement as hell.

Edited February 12, 2016 by Calm

[Maidservant]

The Law of Consecration is absolutely still in effect, and each member who has made that covenant (in the temple) has the privilege of living it to the fullest, or as they are able because none of us always perfect. 

 

But any time the Church, as my ward, calls upon me for my time, talents, energy, and means--then I give fully or as I am able.  I am sure all or most of you do the same. 

Also hopefully I do some things of my own mind and don't have to be required of everything. 

 

This IS the Law of Consecration.  That our time, talents, energy, and means goes toward the Kingdom of God and the Church.  I really don't know what else I do with what I'm given other than that.  While not everything goes "to the ward", everything I have does go toward my family and good, and, when asked for, to the ward.

I think what you are thinking about it particular formatting.  Format has changed, but the Law remains.  Just as the Law of Sacrifice is constant, but the formatting may change.

[CV75]

2 hours ago, Johnnie Cake said:

Fair enough....but so is the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Tithing and I don't see the church making allowances on those commandment just because they are hard to live...so why an allowance on living the Law of Consecration?  Its a pretty important commandment...its even mentioned you know where...so why give everyone a pass in keeping it?

 

Only the United Order was disbanded, not the Law of Consecration. The law is very much in force and Zion is still being built up by it (D&C 105:5); we just live it differently than under the United Order.

The United Order was disbanded until a few things take place:

1. “…mine elders are endowed with power from on high.” (verse 11, which later took place in Kirtland; note verse 4 can refer to the covenant of consecration made in connection with the endowment)

2. “…destroy and lay waste mine enemies…” (verse 15, which has not happened)

3. “…the strength of mine house [hearken] unto my words.” (verse 17, to a sufficient extent)

4. “And inasmuch as they follow the counsel [and the endowment and associated covenants] which they receive, they shall have power after many days to accomplish all things pertaining to Zion.” (verse 37).

So these and some other things listed in that revelation simply haven’t taken place yet! But the Law of Consecration persists in many forms and mechanisms, both personal and organizational.

[Glenn101]

1 hour ago, CV75 said:

Only the United Order was disbanded, not the Law of Consecration. The law is very much in force and Zion is still being built up by it (D&C 105:5); we just live it differently than under the United Order.

The United Order was disbanded until a few things take place:

1. “…mine elders are endowed with power from on high.” (verse 11, which later took place in Kirtland; note verse 4 can refer to the covenant of consecration made in connection with the endowment)

2. “…destroy and lay waste mine enemies…” (verse 15, which has not happened)

3. “…the strength of mine house [hearken] unto my words.” (verse 17, to a sufficient extent)

4. “And inasmuch as they follow the counsel [and the endowment and associated covenants] which they receive, they shall have power after many days to accomplish all things pertaining to Zion.” (verse 37).

So these and some other things listed in that revelation simply haven’t taken place yet! But the Law of Consecration persists in many forms and mechanisms, both personal and organizational.

I think that is probably what Johnny Cake was referring to, The United Order.

The United Order and polygamy were part of the Restoration of All Things." At some point, probably the Millennium. practices will be practiced again. If not, and I and both of my wives come back in the First resurrection, I will be in trouble.

 

Glenn

[Avatar4321]

we already covenant to keep the law of consecration. We see it practiced most in the family

[Meadowchik]

8 hours ago, Maidservant said:

The Law of Consecration is absolutely still in effect, and each member who has made that covenant (in the temple) has the privilege of living it to the fullest, or as they are able because none of us always perfect. 

 

But any time the Church, as my ward, calls upon me for my time, talents, energy, and means--then I give fully or as I am able.  I am sure all or most of you do the same. 

Also hopefully I do some things of my own mind and don't have to be required of everything. 

 

This IS the Law of Consecration.  That our time, talents, energy, and means goes toward the Kingdom of God and the Church.  I really don't know what else I do with what I'm given other than that.  While not everything goes "to the ward", everything I have does go toward my family and good, and, when asked for, to the ward.

I think what you are thinking about it particular formatting.  Format has changed, but the Law remains.  Just as the Law of Sacrifice is constant, but the formatting may change.

Yes, that's it, and as the next poster says, it's the United Order that was disbanded, not consecration. 

My posts should refer to the United Order. Shoulda thrown in a reference to cream, too

[Sevenbak]

12 hours ago, Johnnie Cake said:

I know that there were a few failed attempts in the 19th century to hold members accountable to actually live the Law of Consecration.  So why are members no longer required to live the Law of Consecration? What Changed?

Why don't you live it anymore?  Peter and the early Saints lived it in the Book of Acts.  What changed?

[Bernard Gui]

The United Order is established and administered through calling from proper authorities. It is not currently practiced. The Law of Consecration is a temple covenant all endowed members have made. It is currently practiced by endowed members and others who conscientiously follow the Savior. One way to more perfectly live the Law and simulate the Order is to pay a generous fast offering.

[Maidservant]

I am also not one who thinks that the United Order, as such, will return.  Whatever is coming will be different from all things we have imagined and attempted in the past.

[stemelbow]

People wanted to get rich and live up on the mtn side, looking down on those who live in the polluted air.

[Damien the Leper]

Because any degree of socialism is of the devil. But I'm cool with it.

ETA: If you're against socialism then stop driving on public roads and therefore causing unnecessary traffic.

Edited February 12, 2016 by Valentinus

[JLHPROF]

3 minutes ago, Valentinus said:

Because any degree of socialism is of the devil. But I'm cool with it.

ETA: If you're against socialism then stop driving on public roads and therefore causing unnecessary traffic.

Someone should have told the saints in Acts that.

[Damien the Leper]

29 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

Someone should have told the saints in Acts that.