A post entitled "The Genius Of Mormonism" on Things Of My Soul got me thinking about this issue. In this post, Papa D suggests that the "genius" of Mormonism may also be its greatest challenge - it provides the most amazing opportunities for growth but also for failure. Specifically, he cites Mormonism's lay clergy as an example; while the greatest joys are experienced within the structure of the lay clergy (including women in that description), the deepest disappointments and devastation are ALSO experienced within that same structure.
But there's more to it than that. Mormonism offers what no other religious faith or Christian denomination offers - to put people on the fast track to godhood. This simply means becoming an heir of the Father and a joint heir with His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ; if one becomes an heir of the Father, one inherits His powers as well, which means becoming a god at some point in the distant eternal future. We are the only denomination that builds temples worldwide so we can offer the most advanced and exalted ordinances to further sanctify our faith. While faith alone justifies, works are also required to sanctify. The relationship between faith and works is symbiotic; faith without works is dead.
Nevertheless, the relationship between reward and risk is also symbiotic; the greater the prospective reward, the greater the risk attendant to failure. Perhaps this is why in his book entitled "Life Everlasting", prolific LDS author Duane Crowther suggests that only Mormon men who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood and have accomplished all necessary ordinances could ever be sufficiently eligible to become "sons of perdition"; that is, those who, in the Second Resurrection (Resurrection of the Unjust), will be found to be "filthy still", and sent off into eternal exile with Satan and his cohorts (commonly referred to as "outer darkness", but described by Eric Skousen in "Earth In The Beginning" as the unorganized universe). Crowther suggests that the "Unpardonable Sin" which can lead to one becoming a son of perdition is not a single act which one can commit accidentally, but a series of component sins that, once one commits all of them, one has then committed the Unpardonable Sin. It should be noted that leaving the LDS Church, either by resignation or excommunication, does NOT by itself make one eligible to become a son of perdition.
The bottom line: Mormonism can either put you on the fast track to godhood, or, if you mishandle it, devilhood. Maximum reward, maximum risk.
Perhaps this is why a significant number of people who leave the LDS Church cannot leave it alone and will mount public crusades against it. It requires such a significant level of emotional involvement that if the individual becomes alienated, the individual also feels a sense of personal betrayal. In addition, Mormonism isn't merely just a religion, but a lifestyle; consequently, when one leaves Mormonism, one leave an entire social infrastructure behind. The ex-Mormon suddenly feels "psychologically naked", so it is normal for the ex-Mormon to lash out from time to time as part of the transition process.
It is only when the ex-Mormon takes the next step by insisting that his family and friends follow him out of the Church as the price of continued fellowship, and launches public defamation and misrepresentation campaigns against the Church, that the ex-Mormon actually becomes apostate and embarks upon the "unpardonable" phase. While we have an obligation to respect those who leave our Church, we incur no obligation to follow them out of the Church.
Showing posts with label perdition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label perdition. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Saturday, April 4, 2009
If You Believe That You Alone Are Right, And That The LDS Leadership Have All "Gone Astray", You May Be On The Road To Apostasy
The Feminist Mormon Housewives blog is one of several in the Bloggernacle discussing the 179th Annual General Conference (don't be put off by the "feminist" moniker; this blog is generally pro-LDS). But instead of reporting any of the events, they've chosen merely to start an open discussion thread HERE.
One comment posted by Martin caused me concern. While only the last sentence in the comment is really pertinent to this post, I will cross-post the entire comment here in order to preserve the context:
The last line of the highlighted section is of concern. Note that Martin now believes that the Church leadership is on the wrong side of nearly EVERY issue.
None of us who remain faithful to Church doctrine, regardless of level of activity, agree with the Church leadership 100 percent on everything. Some question the three-hour meeting block as being too long, others question the demands of various callings, still others wonder why close family members can't be given one-time guest recommends to witness their loved ones being married in the temple, and many honorably disagreed with the Church's stand on California Proposition 8. There is nothing wrong with raising such questions; such conduct is not only NOT apostasy, but doesn't even rise to the level of dissension.
But Martin has crossed that line. He not only is disconnected from the Church leadership on nearly every issue, but arrogantly presumes that the leadership is on the WRONG side on ALL those issues. When you get into a position of disagreeing with every major issue, then it is time for you to quit looking at the other side, and look in the mirror instead. Because the problem may be with YOU.
And Satan lurks behind the scenes literally licking his chops. Because now he gets to do what he does best; namely, dispense counterfeit light. Satan will summon his best missionaries from hell's MTC, and dispatch them to influence Martin. They'll tell him, "Martin, you're right. You're smarter than the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and all the Seventies combined. You know in your heart they've all gone astray; you alone are right. Here's you're chance to be the One Mighty And Strong, to call the leadership to repentance, and to single-handedly lead a 13-million member Church out of transgression. You can become Heaven's Next Idol".
Sound ludicrous? Yes, to rational people such as you and I, but no longer unthinkable to Martin. But the real tragedy isn't just that it can lead to apostasy and excommunication. It can lead to a lot worse. Review the experiences of both Ervil LeBaron and the Laffertys. They too suddenly decided that the leadership had all "gone astray", that they alone could bring the Church back, and presumptively called the Church leadership to "repentance". They ended up committing murder - sealing their "testimonies" with the innocent blood of others.
This is not to imply that the Church leadership is infallible. Individual leaders can fall into transgression and apostasize; the case of George P. Lee is proof. But we have obtained a promise from the Lord that once the fulness of the Gospel was restored, it would not be taken from the earth again. Consequently, neither the Church nor its leadership will be permitted to apostasize as a body.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, populated by individuals clothed in imperfect mortal tabernacles, will trip and stumble from time to time. But it will NEVER fall.
One comment posted by Martin caused me concern. While only the last sentence in the comment is really pertinent to this post, I will cross-post the entire comment here in order to preserve the context:
As I listen to conference with its familiar cadences and soothing speakers, I find it surprising that I keep thinking about this blog I’ve followed for many months, and I have a question for all you active Mormon FHMers, particularly those who have a serious beef with the church’s policies.
My question is simply this: can any of you cite a circumstance when you feel the patriarchy of this church has EVER demonstrated inspired leadership or relevation for the church as a whole? Beyond the Book of Mormon, I mean, since several of you seem to accept it. I mean after that. The Kirtland bank? Polygamy? Expansion into Missouri? The temple ceremony? The martyrdom? The migration to Utah? Support for prohibition? Civil Rights? ERA? Blacks and the Priesthood? Church correllation? California Prop 8?
While I’ve truly learned a lot from all the comments I’ve read here (particularly from LDS people with un- or semi-orthodox views), I really wonder why many of you stay, especially considering the amount of anger and frustration expressed.
I sit here listening to these men (and woman) speak, and I don’t expect them to be perfect, but they do lead the church. Does God lead them? More than He leads me? Or, rather, does He lead me through them? If so, why then do they appear to be on the wrong side of nearly every issue? If not….
Comment by Martin — April 4, 2009 @ 12:46 pm
The last line of the highlighted section is of concern. Note that Martin now believes that the Church leadership is on the wrong side of nearly EVERY issue.
None of us who remain faithful to Church doctrine, regardless of level of activity, agree with the Church leadership 100 percent on everything. Some question the three-hour meeting block as being too long, others question the demands of various callings, still others wonder why close family members can't be given one-time guest recommends to witness their loved ones being married in the temple, and many honorably disagreed with the Church's stand on California Proposition 8. There is nothing wrong with raising such questions; such conduct is not only NOT apostasy, but doesn't even rise to the level of dissension.
But Martin has crossed that line. He not only is disconnected from the Church leadership on nearly every issue, but arrogantly presumes that the leadership is on the WRONG side on ALL those issues. When you get into a position of disagreeing with every major issue, then it is time for you to quit looking at the other side, and look in the mirror instead. Because the problem may be with YOU.
And Satan lurks behind the scenes literally licking his chops. Because now he gets to do what he does best; namely, dispense counterfeit light. Satan will summon his best missionaries from hell's MTC, and dispatch them to influence Martin. They'll tell him, "Martin, you're right. You're smarter than the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and all the Seventies combined. You know in your heart they've all gone astray; you alone are right. Here's you're chance to be the One Mighty And Strong, to call the leadership to repentance, and to single-handedly lead a 13-million member Church out of transgression. You can become Heaven's Next Idol".
Sound ludicrous? Yes, to rational people such as you and I, but no longer unthinkable to Martin. But the real tragedy isn't just that it can lead to apostasy and excommunication. It can lead to a lot worse. Review the experiences of both Ervil LeBaron and the Laffertys. They too suddenly decided that the leadership had all "gone astray", that they alone could bring the Church back, and presumptively called the Church leadership to "repentance". They ended up committing murder - sealing their "testimonies" with the innocent blood of others.
This is not to imply that the Church leadership is infallible. Individual leaders can fall into transgression and apostasize; the case of George P. Lee is proof. But we have obtained a promise from the Lord that once the fulness of the Gospel was restored, it would not be taken from the earth again. Consequently, neither the Church nor its leadership will be permitted to apostasize as a body.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, populated by individuals clothed in imperfect mortal tabernacles, will trip and stumble from time to time. But it will NEVER fall.
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