Comments on: My friends started a “school of the prophets.” Would this be considered the beginning of an apostate group?

By: Jason Perry

Jason Perry — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 08:50:00 +0000

In reply to james renfroe. You have to see the error of any Elder being able to go forth and organize the church and baptize without authorization from the one who holds the keys to do so. Just because you can baptize does not mean you have the keys to do so. There is order in all things, especially God's kingdom. Having a study group that seeks revelation is ok as long as they don't try to receive revelation for the Church or try to pull people away from the Church. It's obvious that if this is in fact God's church he would know the right people to call to lead it.

By: james renfroe

james renfroe — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 01:20:00 +0000

Many of the early converts to the church were in study groups. Joseph f smith defined keys as the right to receive revelation not necessarily the right to monopolize worship. I think we just have to accept these groups albeit misguided sometimes were not uncommon in the early Mormon church and weren’t frowned on at all. Elders had all the authority they needed to go forth organize the church and baptize. Many mormons want to return to the charismatic roots of Mormonism. I don’t see what’s wrong with that.

By: Dennis HE Wiggins

Dennis HE Wiggins — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 19:41:00 +0000

In reply to Susan Eglin.

I appreciate you sharing that story with us, but what if Joseph had decided to “not toy with the edges, or move too far from center”? I had an interesting discussion with my Branch President about dedicating the graves of pets. He told me it wasn’t allowed because of reasons similar to the ones given for this “school of the prophets” being wrong. I wrote him a three page rebuttal – full of scriptures, quotes from Prophets, and excerpts from the Handbooks of Instruction – and he has not replied. (He IS busy and has a family, but I am still curious as to why he would chastise me yet not prove me wrong . . . unless I am right. Which, I am confident I am.) My point is, as the Prophet Joseph Smith explained, “a prophet [is] a prophet only when he [is] acting as such” (HC 5:265). So, even leaders (Bishops, etc.) may not be fully correct if they are acting on their knowledge rather than on revelations from Heavenly Father.

By: Susan Eglin

Susan Eglin — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 02:51:00 +0000

WOW! First line…well stated, unequivocally clear, in caps and so direct that no one can misunderstand. Sometimes we, or people we know need that. I is quite amazing how (hopefully) an innocent study group can be pulled off track. I instantly remembered that I used to think that it was fun to drive on the snow covered edge of the street in winter just to watch the water laden slush fly everywhere. On one such day I was driving home from a doctor’s appointment. I had been sick for days, had bronchitis and all of the misery that cold and flu like symptoms entails. Plus it hurt to breathe which made my personal lesson even more painful and memorable. I drove through an intersection and saw some un-driven in slush and steered slightly into it to make it splash. However, my right front tire caught too much of heavy sludge and in seconds my old Monte Carlo was pulled off the road, onto the curb and was stuck on the top of a 6 foot mound of packed snow from an earlier plowing by city trucks. There I was with my Monty pointing somewhat skyward, with snow jammed up under the front bumper and into the engine frame. And I was sick as a dog. Towing was a last option as I was struggling financially so I climbed up to the top got down on my knees and started digging with my hands. A young guy stopped and helped for a couple of minutes but then said to call for a tow and left. An older man stopped but was unable to assist me due to health issues; however he gave me the shovel from his car So there I was, a 45 year old female, sick as a dog, on my stomach, under the front of my car digging packing snow out of from behind the wheels, front bumper and engine. “Long story endless” (wink to the Madsen family) I DID dig it out by myself, (no one else stopped) while feeling foolish in front of hundreds of passers by, feeling like somehow they could see my shame of my self inflicted predicament. I finally managed to back down onto the road, I returned the snow shovel to the man’s home down the street and NEVER EVER edged up to catch wet, dirty slush-filled side of a road again. Straight and narrow road. An object lesson on why we should not toy with the edges, or move too far from center. – Sue in the Great White North

By: Lemon Wader

Lemon Wader — Wed, 31 May 2017 20:28:00 +0000

Thank you Gramps, for a second witness, and giving me the clarity and courage I needed. Slippery times indeed…

It seems so obvious now, especially the way that you put it, but often when one is in the moment, flaxen cords can seem so soft, especially when they polish the pride.

https://www.lds.org/manual/book-of-mormon-seminary-teacher-manual-2013/2-nephi/lesson-36?lang=eng