Join us for the last part of our response to Elder David Bednar’s most interesting section of his National Press Club Conference in which he is questioned about the declining LDS membership in the US, same-sex marriage, and the $100 billion Church fund.
John, Jenn, RFM, and Gerardo will be discussing Elder Bednar’s remarks and what he left out!
Show Notes:
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The key to his answer to tue status question, is his “apostolic” double-speak. He shows his cards when he starts with his statement that he will endeavor to answer as an apostle, and not as a statistician. He is saying he will answer to protect the church, not in a straightforward, fact-based manner…which is how a statistician would answer.
I was so disappointed by the discussion about politics and the “both sides” nonsense. I just don’t get how John, as someone who seems to advocate for equality, is a registered Republican. What Republican policy do you support, John? The part about making it harder to vote? The part about the government having control over a woman’s reproductive system? The part about opposing marriage equality? The part about opposing any meaningful gun control legislation? The part about challenging the outcome of free and fair elections when it doesn’t go your way? I could go on but I won’t. No, it isn’t a “both sides” thing. I’d even have more respect for Mr. Dehlin if he said he was an Independent. Yeah, it’s partisan but the entire idea of challenging the Mormon narrative is partisan if you are, as the definition says, a “strong supporter of a cause”.
I registered Republican so that my vote in the primaries would count. I vote for progressive Republicans in the primaries (eg Jon Huntsman Jr) and then Democrats in the generals.
Many progressives do this in Utah.
Again the bottom line
Did bednar speak as Jesus would? There were no spirit or words from Jesus
It’s obvious that bednar was instructed by attorneys and PR people and rehearsed his answers The purpose of this talk was all about making the church look good. Nothing about speaking words of love Hope charity or forgiveness
Again. Bednar does not know Jesus therefore he cannot speak for him
Nelson is the same. Tscc is a very cold harsh demanding cult
I had a couple comments about this episode. 1. When the reporter asked about membership numbers, I found it disingenuous when Elder Bednar said he/they are not really sure what the real numbers are because of migration from the Western US. The church knows exactly how many people are active. Attendance is reported up the chain each week. Membership records are managed very accurately. They probably know how many chairs each chapel has. The church is all about numbers. That is the one thing they do. They count everything.
2. The Temple was not a place for meditation when we were active. My wife was scolded once for trying to sit and read the BOM in the Celestial room. She was explicitly told that you are not allowed to sit, read or ponder in the CR. She was “politely escorted” out of the CR because they deemed her time was up. Unless things have drastically changed, I do not know where in the temple you are allowed to sit, read, pray and ponder. Maybe the locker room?
What Temple was that? I’ve always seen people setting and reading. I’ve never heard of such a thing.
I absolutely treasured the part where John D goes off on the temple. I understand his passion there in light of a listener basically gaslighting him…telling him he doesn’t know what he is talking about. I’m the same age group as John D and we know what we were taught, we know what the temple used to look like before 1990, and we know the temple experience is nothing like D Bednar describes.
Oh My Goodness, John. Thank you, thank you, a million trillion thankyous, for the description of the weirdness of the Mormon temple ceremonies with the signs and gestors. I suffered YEARS in guilt in shame, because I knew I should have taken my own life. I “allowed” myself to be sexually assaulted when I was a temple married Mormon wife and mother. I drank alcohol, and my husband said it was my fault and I deserved what happened to me. For years I thought I should have killed myself, as the only honorable thing. I am proudly Mormon apostate now, and subscribe to a kinder, more loving and gentle God of my understanding. Thank you.
Would it be possible to correct the link text to “Widow’s Mite”? Thank you.
There was no indication that Jesus influenced bednar in anyway
This was a scripted rehearsed presentation with the PR goal of making the church look good
Cold impersonal manipulative and deceitful
Every answer availed an completely honest authentic response
Biggest indication that tscc is not led by Jesus
The rich cult is not Jesus church…….
Mark 10:17-31
“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
20 ……”I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
“There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
Mathew 18:22
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.