I should say, however, that I certainly hope and believe that there is flexibility in both directions, regardless of what Joseph taught. Not to say I’m a universalist.

Finally, I confess my own weakness, futility, and confusion when it comes to spiritual things. Only with divine grace and mercy am I able to comprehend anything about God and the eternal. I hope that the many areas in which my faith remains inchoate will some day become clearer. In the meanwhile, I cling to what I have been given.

Amen. “I know that [God] loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things …”

That obviously sometimes puts me at odds with people, or my understanding of the Church. I know people think that makes me antagonistic, but really I just need to talk out my faith and what is the right thing to do with it.

I love reconciliation. I am the oneriest gut on the planet, but I hate fighting with people (excuse the hyperbole). There is nothing better than when we understand and like each other again.

Double blessing with this post.

I am always pleased when I find something that inspires and uplifts me or makes me evaluate my faith.

I don’t mean to, nor will I get in the habit of mocking or critisizing the surface culture of the church. It is what is is – and as much as it has annoyed me, there isn’t room, time nor energy avaiable for it annoy me now. But: golly, do I cringe when children get up in testimony meeting and say they ‘know the church is true.’ Well, actually, what do they know? I told myself I would never say that ‘I know the church is true’ – unless I had qualified it, and addended it so that my meaning was clear; and beyond that tried to ask, if only myself, in perfectly good faith, what it is we mean when we say it. I love the forthrightness and clarity in your confession about what you do not know. Lack of knowledge, with faith, is the beginning of knowledge: ‘if any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering’ … not ‘if any man lacks wisdom, let him reaasert catchphrases until he convinces himself that he doesn’t waver …’

Anyway, enough of that.

Thanks.

T

Amri–great questions. I do have a goal for my faith. I hope to become closer to God. If that process leads me to make an affirmation of faith that sounds more acceptable to some particular group within our community, so be it. Furthermore, I am committed to listening carefully and deeply to what our leaders and my fellow Saints have to say. Beyond that, though, my goal is to grow closer to God; any specificity beyond that strikes me as something of a distraction.