There
have been a number of recent articles published in one of the local
newspapers that are critical of the church. I will not go into detail
about what people are saying. Suffice it to say that people find fault.
The
crux of their complaints is that they did not know some things that
happened in the past. They claim that the church leaders have been
hiding things from the church members.
They think that all of these things should have been spoken about in sacrament meetings or in Sunday school.
The
incidents and practices that they refer to have not been hidden from
those who have studied. If someone who lives 350 miles from the center
of the church and is a busy physician can read and gain the information
on such topics without the benefit of access to the church archives, then anyone can find out about those "hidden and secret"
things.
Let us here state that the only reason for the existence on the church is to bring people to Christ and be perfected in him.
The church is to testify of Christ and to call people to repentance. It is not here to teach history.
When
I was serving as stake president Elder Bruce Redd McConkie came and
taught me and the other priesthood leaders the principles of priesthood
correlation.
- The family and the individual do everything in the church.
- The church exists to help the family and the individual.
- Home teaching is the vehicle through which the church helps the family and the individual.
This seems to be somewhat hidden in the church today.
Next we have the 3 or 4 fold mission of the church. Originally it was three and now it is four.
- Proclaim the gospel.
- Redeem the dead.
- Perfect the saints.
- Serve the poor and needy.
Nowhere in these principles do I see the need for teaching or understanding items of history or past practices.
Our
eternal salvation and God's approbation does not depend on the
knowledge that the church changed fast meeting from the first Thursday
in the month to the first Sunday. Or that the early Elders of the church
used to raise their right arm to the square when they prayed or
administered the sacrament, or any number of a myriad of things.
Some
have such weak testimonies that when they find out that Joseph Smith
used a seer stone and a hat to reduce the ambient light when he translate the Book of Mormon that they cry,
"Why have the church leaders hidden this fact from us?" I found about that at least 35 years ago and it was not because some church leader spoon fed me the information.
This
information will not be asked by Saint Peter at the golden gate for
entrance into the kingdom of God. (A commonly held false notion.) He will
probably ask, "Have you read the Book of Mormon and lived by its
principles and commandments that God caused to come forth by his command and through his gift and power to his prophets?" Or
"Do you love Christ with all your heart, might and strength and have you
kept all his statutes and ordinances and been a savior to your
ancestors?"
The
prophets and apostles have more to do than satisfy members curiosity.
Their mandate from the Lord is to preach nothing but repentance unto
this generation and to prepare the earth for His second coming.
He does not want a slothful people who have nothing to do except be spoon fed by the leaders.
If
you have a question, ask the Lord first after you have put some effort
to find the answers from the pure fountain and then ask Grandpa if you
don't have enough faith to get an answer from the Lord. Grandpa will answer your question and not think the question is stupid.
Love,
Grandpa
