Comments on: Teaching OD-2

By: Terry A

Terry A — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:34:32 +0000

This whole priesthood ban thing is an example of subsequent prophets being locked into suppoprting some idea from a previous prophet. It probably wouldn’t happen today as our prophets are surrounded by “minders” and everythjing they say is carefully analysed before publication. I believe that sometimes Joseph Smith and Brigham Young went unchecked in their statements and were victims of the corruption that comes from absolute power. The “mature” chuurch of today is far more circumspect

By: Kalo

Kalo — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:51:15 +0000

Before you WASTE your money and buy the book or see the movie “Blood Done Sign My Name” by Tim Tyson you may want to Google Tim Tyson exposed and find out what type of person he is.

He is definitely a person that will lie. So the question is can a liar be trusted?

By: Hunter

Hunter — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:47:59 +0000

Wow, T-NC, I really appreciated your interesting comment. Thanks for adding your perspective.

It’s this kind of faithful but thoughtful comment that makes the ‘nacle so good.

By: T-NC

T-NC — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:44:27 +0000

‘feelings’ of racism, I meant. Also forgot to mention how much Darius Gray and Margaret Young’s series ‘Standing on the Promises’ meant to us. REALLY believe the history of black pioneers should be taught hand-in-hand w/ the rest of church hx in GD classes. As I wrote, I’m a lifetime mbr and had never heard of them until I read the books. Members could probably use a good reading of ‘Blood Done Sign My Name’ by Tim Tyson, too, while they’re @ it. The movie comes out in Feb and stars Rick Schroeder, to boot !

By: T-NC

T-NC — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:30:42 +0000

re: #s 80,82,87,89
I am a white woman born into the church married to a black convert. Our ward in NC is made up of many black converts and old white lifetime members like myself. :) I have always been interested in this issue and became even more so while trying to convert my husband. My husband wasn’t very bothered by the ban – he credits it all to human failings – just another chapter of civil rights issues. But we know more of our friends than not ARE bothered by the ban – AAs, hispanics AND whites. I believe very strongly that ANY discussion re: the ban and acknowledgements that ‘we just don’t know why’ are always much better than none. ‘Pussyfooting’ around the issue (as my mother says) does no one any good and can sometimes hurt even more. Members very much need to realize that it can be a painful issue for some, but we should never ignore it. It also continues to be a very relevant issue as there ARE members who still very much have racist feelings. My husband was denied the PH many times before local leadership changed and every interview I had w/ same leadership started out w/ them patting themselves on the back for being okay w/ the 1978 decision. Left that congregation behind, but have still heard remarks in classes over time that are of the same concept. Pres. Hinckley addressed these lingering fellings of racism in GC in recent years. Wisdom and advice some members have yet to hear.

By: Antonio Parr

Antonio Parr — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:53:31 +0000

Ray wrote:

Antonio, stupid crap gets said in meetings of all denominations.

I mostly agree with you, although the ratio of “stupid crap” seems to increase in direct proportion to the number of fundamentalists in the denomination at issue.

Thank heavens for General Conference, which is a thing of beauty. Although not all talks are perfect, I find the entire experience to be sublime.

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:25:56 +0000

Aaron, since I would never dream of “sending the elders over”, I’m not worried about that all. If a friend of mine is interested in being taught, I’m going to be there when they are taught formally by the elders – either in their house or mine. Also, OD-2 isn’t part of the lessons for a reason, so if it’s going to be taught, it’s going to be taught by me.

Antonio, stupid crap gets said in meetings of all denominations. When I’ve had a friend with me at church and someone said something stupid, I’ve never had a single friend who didn’t understand completely when I rolled my eyes and told them that wasn’t what I believe. Generally, it’s led to an excellent discussion of how we aren’t all brain-washed zombies who believe everything exactly alike – so I stopped worrying about what other people say in front of friends of mine a long time ago.

The only difference with this topic is that I might be more concerned if I lived in a ward or branch where racism was a problem with lots of members. Thank goodness that’s not the case in my current ward – but if it was I’d be addressing it head-on with the leadership. I’d do it gently with the individual members, but I would do it directly with the leadership.

By: Aaron B

Aaron B — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:45:34 +0000

Hmmm. I’m less worried about bringing them to church than I am sending the elders over…

By: Antonio Parr

Antonio Parr — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:22:32 +0000

re: 100 – 104:

Is it any wonder that so many members are reluctant to invite friends to Church?

By: Kathryn Soper

Kathryn Soper — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:01:14 +0000

I’m feeling much better about my lesson, which featured a brother bearing his testimony that the OD-2 was true based on the fact that God didn’t execute SWK on the spot.