LDS Only: Is the Lord pleased with our understanding? (priest, Latter-Day Saints)

[Katzpur]

I don't know if any of you have ever read the book what was written jointly a few years back by Stephen E. Robinson and an Evangelical Scholar, Craig L. Blomberg called "How Wide the Divide?" It was a discussion between the two of them with the purpose of trying to come to an understanding as to what our similarities and differences in belief really are. It was a very good book, by the way.

Anyway, in it, Robinson quoted President Ezra Taft Benson and explained that President Benson said that the Lord has not been pleased with the gap betwen scripturally revealed beliefs and the level of "popular" LDS understanding. When I read that, I really started to wonder what he (Benson) meant and what things he was specifically referring to. What do you all think? Where do you think he sees us as having missed the boat, and why do you think this has happened?

(I put this under same-faith debates, because I wanted it to be just the Latter-day Saints. I'm not really anticipating anything more than just some nice civil discussion, but hey! you never know.)

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Anyway, in it, Robinson quoted President Ezra Taft Benson and explained that President Benson said that the Lord has not been pleased with the gap betwen scripturally revealed beliefs and the level of "popular" LDS understanding. When I read that, I really started to wonder what he (Benson) meant and what things he was specifically referring to. What do you all think? Where do you think he sees us as having missed the boat, and why do you think this has happened?

What I really see is that President Benson is referring to the popular LDS beliefs. They aren't at all scriptual and are holding us back. I don't particularly think it is anything in specific, but in general.

This has happened because, honesly, many of us have become lazy (myself included).

[jonny]

I don't believe the Lord is pleased with our understanding. Otherwise, we probably wouldn't need seminary, institute, sunday school, know my religion courses, etc. We obviously have something to learn and haven't learned it yet.

The great thing is that I don't expect the Lord to ever really be pleased with our understanding in this life. That isn't the point. This life is more about the journey and learning is a big part of the journey.

I think that the emphasis that President Benson put on the Book of Mormon when he was prophet has helped though. From what I've seen, members of the church base their beliefs more on scripture than on tradition (as it may have been in the past). This may also be a product of the contributions of large numbers of converts from other Christian religions in our sunday school classes, etc.

[SoyLeche]

How soon was this after "Saturday's Warrior" came out

I'm really not sure what he meant. Do you know the context of the quote? Maybe he explains himself more.

[jonny]

Originally Posted by SoyLeche

How soon was this after "Saturday's Warrior" came out

I'm really not sure what he meant. Do you know the context of the quote? Maybe he explains himself more.

Saturday's Warrior is doctrine. Take that back!

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by SoyLeche

How soon was this after "Saturday's Warrior" came out

I'm really not sure what he meant. Do you know the context of the quote? Maybe he explains himself more.

LOL! I know you're just kidding, but I also suppose you realize what a valid point you just made. In my husband's priesthood meeting a few weeks back, the teacher asked some questions that started an interesting discussion. He named a lot of commonly held beliefs and asked whether they were true or false and -- more importantly -- whether they were doctrinal or not. Apparently he got some pretty varied answers.

[SoyLeche]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

LOL! I know you're just kidding, but I also suppose you realize what a valid point you just made. In my husband's priesthood meeting a few weeks back, the teacher asked some questions that started an interesting discussion. He named a lot of commonly held beliefs and asked whether they were true or false and -- more importantly -- whether they were doctrinal or not. Apparently he got some pretty varied answers.

Around the time of the 20th anniversary of "Saturday's Warrior" one of my friend's religion teachers said "Now it's going to take us another 20 years to clear up all of the doctrinal misconceptions that it has caused".

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by SoyLeche

Around the time of the 20th anniversary of "Saturday's Warrior" one of my friend's religion teachers said "Now it's going to take us another 20 years to clear up all of the doctrinal misconceptions that it has caused".

Right! Here's another interesting example from my own experience. Back in 1963, when I was in high school and attending Seminary, my Seminary teacher predicted that the Second Coming of Christ would be in approximately 37 years. He was careful not to pin it down to an exact year, but even so, when I went home and asked my dad about it, he about hit the roof. That's when I learned that Seminary teachers are not prophets. But I wonder how many kids in my class really took that to heart and passed the information on to their kids?

[DeepShadow]

I'd start with these when evaluating us against President Benson's statements. Are any of these the ones referenced in How Wide the Divide?

D&C 84
54 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—
55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.
56 And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.
57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—
58 That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgme