Can be found here. It’s too bad that those who really need to understand this straightforward idea seem to have such great difficulty with it. In God’s plan for the happiness and eternal progression of His children, the blessings of His priesthood are equally available to men and women. Only men are ordained to serve in priesthood offices. All service in the Church has equal merit in the eyes of God. We express profound gratitude for the millions of Latter-day... Read more
Interesting perspective from George Q Cannon on the meaning of Apostasy, From FAIR. Read more
Kate Kelly of “Ordain Women” has been excommunicated. Salt Lake Tribune account here. Read more
Despite the rhetorical posturing of many critics of the Church, it does not excommunicate people for asking questions, much less for “thinking.” (Note the equally absurd implication that only critics and dissenters can be Mormon “intellectuals.”) Indeed, the Church was founded by a young boy asking questions. Asking questions is a very important path to greater light and knowledge. Nor does the Church excommunicate people for doubt. Part of the inevitable consequence of the human condition is uncertainty and ambiguity.... Read more
See here. Read more
From Greg Smith. Read more
There is an (intentional?) confusion and conflation among some critics of the Church regarding the meaning of the terms heresy and apostasy. Such confusion is not helpful in trying to understand the current situation regarding the Church courts. I already discussed the question of apostasy. 1- The first problem is the confusion that heresy is simply a matter of difference of opinion on doctrinal issues. This is also not the case. Heresy does not consist of different doctrinal opinions. Heresy... Read more
Some of the critics of the Church like to claim that “apostasy” means “standing apart,” implying a mere insignificant different of opinion. It does not. It means “rebellion.” According to the third edition of the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, the standard scholarly dictionary of the Greek New Testament, it means “defiance of established system or authority, rebellion, abandonment, breach of faith” (p. 120). (See the usage in Josh 22:22; 2 Ch 29:19; 1 Macc 2:15; Acts 21:21; 2 Thess. 2:3) Read more
The recent controversy over church courts has led to a bit of confusion and conflation of ideas. There are three separate issues here. 1- Should the Church excommunicate people? 2- If yes, on what grounds should the Church excommunicate people? 3- If there are legitimate criteria for excommunication, does a specific individual meet those criteria? It seems to me that most of the criticism of the Church in the blogosphere is based on question one. That is to say, the... Read more
A friend of mine sent me this interesting new report: Sunday, July 15, 2014 Republican’s Modest Proposal Risks Eviction From Party Scranton (New Jersey) Tribulation and Coupon Saver, A-1 (REUTERS) Pamela Printzmetal, a member of the Republican Party, has cried foul over reports that the party may expel her. Printzmetal has been a long and vocal advocate for the addition of a plank—advocating the forcible collectivization of agriculture—to the Republicans’ party platform. Party leaders and rank and file have been... Read more
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