The following is taken from Following The Living Prophets, Pages 152-153, by Brent L. Top, Larry E. Dahl, and Walter D. Bowen. (Walter Bowen was my favourite Professor of Religion at BYU)The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibited sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcoholic beverages within the United States. The 21st Amendment to the Constitution repealed the 18th Amendment, thereby legalizing sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcoholic beverages within the United States. The state of Utah, with its predominantly LDS population, became the decisive vote on the matter. "One of the saddest days in all of Utahs history", observed Spencer W. Kimball, "was when the people, including the Latter-day Saints (for it could not have been done without them) rejected the counsel and urging of the Lords prophet, Heber J. Grant, and repealed Prohibition long years ago - yet many of those voters had sung numerous times, We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet." Many Church members viewed President Grants counsel as nothing more than his political opinion. They failed to recognize that through their disobedience they were sowing seeds of subsequent sorrow and heartache. Of this result, President George Albert Smith said:
"We are fortunate today to have the servant of the Lord who presides over the Church, the mouthpiece of the Lord to us, sitting in our midst. There are thousands of people who would walk any distance they were able, in order that they might see the face and touch the hand of the Prophet of the Lord, and yet there are many of our own people who disregard his guidance and his counsel. From this very stand he pleaded with us not to repeal the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. He didnt speak as Heber J. Grant, the man. He spoke as the President of the Church and the representative of our Heavenly Father. And yet in a state where we could have retained what we had, there were enough Latter-day Saints, so called (some of them hold positions in the Church, or did at that time), who paid no attention to what the Lord wanted., ignored what he had said through his prophet, and what is the result? Such delinquency as we have never known in our community today, and in many cases the fathers and mothers, who defied the advice of our Heavenly Father and said, "We will do as we please," are paying the penalty and will continue to do so until they turn away from their foolishness and desire with all their hearts to do what our Heavenly Father desires us to do."
Are there any other examples of large numbers of LDSs ignoring or opposing counsel given by a Prophet?
Well there's the whole go into debt unnecessarily, buy a house way bigger than we can afford, and generally live beyond our means thing that we LDS are pretty good at. I mean, we pay our tithing, so the Lord will "bless" us to afford all those things, right?
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The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. - Julie Beck
I wonder how the Lord views members participating in Sabbath Day sports and other kinds of performances, either as participants or as spectators ?How many of us are growing gardens or learning to garden, as admonished by prophets and apostles?
And let's not forget family history, How many members are neglecting genealogical research and related activities, including the 5 Generation Program ?
One of the counsels frequently ignored is that wives should, when possible, not work outside the home. I realize that there are many situations in our economy which force the necessity of it. But still, many LDS women choose a career over spending time with their kids, when it is not financially necessary.
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
In a transcription of an October 11, 1941 letter signed by the First Presidency of the Church, to The Honorable William C. FitzGibbon, Defense Savings Staff, Treasury Department, Washington, D. C., one can find the following statements:
"There are numbers of the Mormon people who have not fully responded to the teachings of the Church nor to be [sic] tenets of its organizations, and who are, therefore, lukewarm in the support of the Church, its policies, principles, and doctrines."
"We confess to you that it has not been possible for us to unify our own people even upon the necessity of such a turning about,..."
A copy of the original letter is in the University of Utah Library.
President Monson has counseled us to be of service. He asked the saints to give to the Humanitarian Fund for the benefit of the people of Haiti and then again for the people of Chile.
How many members would you guess has even given $5 for either.
I imagine very few.
It's right there on the donation slip when we GIVE our tithing and fast offerings yet it is ignored.
In 1998 Pres. Hinckley warned there was the portent of stormy economical weather. How many got out of debt?
Our God requires so much of us, but he also gives so much.
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
Food storage... by the Church's own "best guess", only 16% have what they have been counseled to have. This is deplorable...
Here's a question...
Some here are aware, and some are not, that I'm a relatively new member to the Church. I'm in my late 40s and have been a member for a little over 4 years. My wife and I and both of our sons, all joined together. Our sons are now 15 and 18. The 18 year old has (in just 4 years) earned his Duty to God Medallion, his Eagle Scout Award, and will be putting in for his mission on his 19th birthday (later this year). So long as I'm bragging on him he scored a Max 800 out of 800 on the math portion of his SAT college entrance test (and 780 out of 800 on the reading portion). The younger one is pretty much following in his foot steps.
In regards to doing the right thing... in the eyes of the Lord... I have a lot of catching up to do... When you convert later in life, some things take time to change. My wife works full time too. We still have debt... more than I'm comfortable with, but are making good progress toward getting rid of it.
We attend Church every Sunday (unless out of town, and sometimes even then) We pay our full tithing We're Temple worthy and attend (but not as often as we should) We're pretty much 100% on our home and visiting teaching We've done quite a bit, but have LOTS more to go on family history
I've taken on a small second job (mostly due to the economy, but also because it falls in line with my preparedness plans)
I now have a Stake level calling which takes almost all my spare time and keeps me away from my own Ward and from being with my family at Church It also prevents me from having the extra time I need for other Church related activities
I thought I was busy as a Scout Master, but now I long for those days... Is this typical? Normal?
I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining, cause I'm not. I'm enjoying everything I do, but sometimes I feel frantic trying to get it all done. I feel (and to a certain extent, so does my family) that I'm stretched too thin.
When does one catch their breath?
-- Edited by DMGNUT on Wednesday 10th of March 2010 11:24:08 PM
For what it's worth, about 17 years ago I had a calling that took me away from my family every Sunday and was burdening my wife. Our kids were being adversally affected. I went to the member of the stake presidency who had originally called me to that position, and I was released. Years before, on two prior occasions, I asked to be released from callings that I felt I could not satisfactorily magnify. There was no problem with my being released. And we know a woman who became quite bitter because her husband's responsibilities as bishop kept him away from sfamily so much, especailly. She is still alive and believes that contributed greatly to the current inactivity of their 3 grown children. My wife and I are family history consultants assigned to our stake family history center one nite a week. It is a rare Thursday evening that anyone shows. We have brought this to the attention of the responsible member of the stake presidency several times. We have suggested reassignment to the regional FH Center in our city to no avail. I guess my point is, DMGNUT, don't hesitate to vent your frustrations with a calling.
When I was given my stake calling, the bishop asked if I wanted to be released from my ward calling. The decision was mine to make. I said no, I would keep both callings. I didn't want to quit teaching my prep lesson.
I pick one Friday or Saturday night and invite 4-6 couples to meet with me at the church. The lesson takes abouty 2-3 hours depending on how many questions they ask. This is the same lesson plan I've sent you the link to.
