Posts Tagged ‘ correlation ’

In Praise of Elder Packer: ‘Let Them Govern Themselves’

September 28, 2009
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In Praise of Elder Packer: ‘Let Them Govern Themselves’

It might just be the posts that I read, but Boyd K. Packer is not the most popular of Apostles in the Bloggernacle (or perhaps among liberal Mormons more generally).  I acknowledge that this is a speculative impression.  At the very least, I have heard Elder Packer criticised at Sunstone and on the Bloggernacle on a few occassions at least.  I was therefore surprised to find one of his sermons published in full in an issue of Sunstone.  The talk was insightful, challenging and thought-provoking.  As a result I wanted to reproduce some of his comments here that I found most...

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“Moderation in All Things”: A Poll

September 25, 2009
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The phrase, “moderation in all things” is a euphemism usually (but not exclusively) associated (by Mormons at least)with the Word of Wisdom.  It usually means that we should not go too far, one way or the other, in abstaining to the point of becoming an ascetic or in indulging to the point of becoming an addict.  Of course, that leaves lots of room for interpretation and individual opinion, as well as plenty of opportunity for members to judge one another uncharitably.

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Do Mormon Kids Understand the Atonement?

August 28, 2009
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Does the church teach that we are saved by grace or that we are saved by works?  This is one of the most oft-repeated criticisms of the Mormon church by other churches, that we don’t correctly understand the atonement of Jesus.

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Groupthink

June 30, 2009
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“Groupthink” is what naturally happens when a group becomes sedentary and sluggish.  When change is introduced or new people are introduced, they challenge the “groupthink.” I’ve never seen the word groupthink (when used correctly) as a positive.  Does the church suffer from groupthink or just unity (“being one,” and “if ye are not one, ye are not mine.”)?  You decide.

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This Won’t Make It Past Correlation!

November 19, 2008
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Who wrote this, and why wouldn’t the Correlation Committee allow it to be published today? Every teacher is obligated by his responsibility to others to become a scholar in the gospel.

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This Won’t Get Past Correlation!

October 29, 2008
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Here is a quote from a dusty, forgotten, once-official Church manual. Who said this and why wouldn’t this get past the brethren and sistren at Correlation?: Inequality of inheritance and opportunity among the children of men leads many people to question the Creator’s impartiality and justice, and, therefore, his very existence…

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This Won’t Make It Past Correlation!

October 23, 2008
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Our quote this week is from another church manual predating Correlation. Who wrote this, and why would the Correlation Committee disapprove?: Just what is the function and role of religion in one’s life? Let us suggest an experiment.  Take a piece of paper, divide it into two columns, place a plus sign above one and a negative sign above the other.  On the basis of your experience with life to-date list in these two columns respectively a) those things which have brought you most satisfaction in life and b) those things which are frustrating and destructive to fine living.

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This Won’t Make It Past Correlation!

October 15, 2008
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Another week, another great uncorrelated quote from an LDS Church manual that would never see the light of day in today’s church: Every discussion of faith must distinguish it from its caricatures. Faith is not credulity. It is not “believing things you know ain’t so.”

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This Won’t Make It Past Correlation!

October 8, 2008
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This Won’t Make It Past Correlation!

Hi everyone, Welcome to my new series where I provide you, the reader, with an excerpt from an LDS church manual, uncited, which I LIKE. That means no Journal of Discourses nonsense like blood atonement, racism, or Adam-God for starters. (Sorry to disappoint some of our readers with that caveat). You can guess if you want, such things as the author (the Church used to have individual authors stand behind their words), the title, the era, or which church program the lesson was used in. But that’s all trivia, really, compared to this: You get to list ALL THE...

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