theplains Posted March 22, 2017 Posted March 22, 2017 I had a question about this speech given by Ezra Taft Benson in the October 1967 General Conference. "The arm of flesh may not approve nor understand why God has not bestowed the priesthood on women or the seed of Cain ... The Prophet Joseph Smith understood this principle when he said, "the curse is not yet taken off from the sons of Canaan, neither will be until it is affected by as great a power as caused it to come;" Does this quote mean man was not the originator of the priesthood ban? Is the 'arm of flesh' designation applied to the First Presidency and the other LDS Apostles or do they understand why God withheld the priesthood from women and the seed of Cain? Thanks, Jim
probablyHagoth7 Posted March 22, 2017 Posted March 22, 2017 38 minutes ago, theplains said: n ... The Prophet Joseph Smith understood this principle when he said, "the curse is not yet taken off from the sons of Canaan, neither will be until it is affected by as great a power as caused it to come;"... Tangent question....that might lead back to yours: ? What was being foretold that was to affect them..?
CV75 Posted March 22, 2017 Posted March 22, 2017 12 hours ago, theplains said: I had a question about this speech given by Ezra Taft Benson in the October 1967 General Conference. "The arm of flesh may not approve nor understand why God has not bestowed the priesthood on women or the seed of Cain ... The Prophet Joseph Smith understood this principle when he said, "the curse is not yet taken off from the sons of Canaan, neither will be until it is affected by as great a power as caused it to come;" Does this quote mean man was not the originator of the priesthood ban? Is the 'arm of flesh' designation applied to the First Presidency and the other LDS Apostles or do they understand why God withheld the priesthood from women and the seed of Cain? Thanks, Jim I think Elder Benson used the term 'arm of flesh' to apply to those who do not rely on the arm of the Lord and even oppose Him. This would be evident in reading the relevant paragraphs in full. The Lord does not always give reasons for each commandment. Sometimes faithful members, like Adam of old, are called upon to obey an injunction of the Lord even though they do not know the reason why it was given. Those who trust in God will obey him, knowing full well that time will provide the reasons and vindicate their obedience. The arm of flesh may not approve nor understand why God has not bestowed the priesthood on women or the seed of Cain, but God's ways are not man's ways (Isa. 55:8-9). God does not have to justify all his ways for the puny mind of man. If a man gets in tune with the Lord, he will know that God's course of action is right, even though he may not know all the reasons why. The Prophet Joseph Smith understood this principle when he said, ". . . the curse is not yet taken off from the sons of Canaan, neither will be until it is affected by as great a power as caused it to come; and the people who interfere the least with the purposes of God in this matter, will come under the least condemnation before Him; and those who are determined to pursue a course, which shows an opposition, and a feverish restlessness against the decrees of the Lord, will learn, when perhaps it is too late for their own good, that God can do His own work, without the aid of those who are not dictated by His counsel." (Documentary History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 438.) Elder Benson’s question is about “why God has not bestowed the priesthood on women or the seed of Cain,” not who instituted these practices. Joseph Smith’s point is not to interfere with the “purposes of God in this matter,” whatever His role. Both men advocated the principle “that God can do His own work, without the aid of those who are not dictated by His counsel." So the quote is not about who originated the ban. It is not about applying the term 'arm of flesh' to the LDS Church leaders in their ministry, and it is not about any claim to know why the ban originated, or who originated it. Only "that God can do His own work, without the aid of those who are not dictated by His counsel" in this matter.
Gray Posted March 22, 2017 Posted March 22, 2017 This is based on American folk doctrines about the origins of Africans, coming out of Ham/Canaan or out of Cain. In reality, the Israelites were ethnically identical to the Canaanites. Israel as a people originated in Canaan.
clarkgoble Posted March 22, 2017 Posted March 22, 2017 Yup, this was an unfortunate racist apologetic based upon horrible justifications for slavery that came out of the south during the abolition period. It's not doctrine and Pres. Benson likely picked it up from his John Birch connections. 1
Kevin Christensen Posted March 22, 2017 Posted March 22, 2017 For the full history of the misuse of the seed of Cain rhetoric, which goes back further than the American South, but not as far back as the text, see this BYU Studies essay: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwifpPuotOrSAhVj2oMKHf4-BSsQFggaMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbyustudies.byu.edu%2Ffile%2F9691%2Fdownload%3Ftoken%3D367R3pUS&usg=AFQjCNFDp-EscV59Dbc5bCWel6QXH3L5ag&bvm=bv.150120842,d.amc&cad=rja FWIW Kevin Christensen Canonsburg, PA 1
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