Tag Archive for ‘Latter-day Saints’
Lorenzo Snow–21 Loving God More Than we Love the World, by Mike Thomas
Most of this chapter comprises extracts from a sermon Lorenzo Snow delivered just after he had been called as president of the Quorum of the Twelve in April 1889. That date, that period, is significant because many of the conditions that prevailed some fifty years earlier were again being experienced by the Mormon Church. In… Read More ›
General Conference, October 2013, Priesthood Session Review
These days Mormon Conferences are rather like the Reader’s Digest; convivial, safe and predictable. You will smile at old men with a twinkle in their eyes telling heart-warming anecdotes about when they were in Primary a zillion years ago. You will laugh at the folly of muddle-headed home teachers and the fun apostles can have… Read More ›
Lorenzo Snow–18 Church Leadership and Selfless Service, by Mike Thomas
This month’s chapter is hard to critique and that is no bad thing. There is no spite in what we are doing here, we don’t find fault for the sake of it. The truth is the truth whoever speaks it and a call to selfless service is no bad thing. There is much here to… Read More ›
Getting Some “Fair” Attention Part 4, by Mike Thomas
The review of the final day of the outreach to Mormons at the British Mormon Pageant 2013, written by Jason Thickpenny, made mention of the controversy surrounding the long discredited Mormon “scripture,” The Book of Abraham. The subject had come up in discussion with Mormons and Jason commented, “They had no idea about the fact… Read More ›
Teachings of President Lorenzo Snow chapter 12 Tithing
“The law of tithing is one of the most important ever revealed to man. . . . Through obeying this law the blessings of prosperity and success will be given to the Saints.” Lorenzo Snow A Revelation It was in early May 1899, we are told, that president Lorenzo Snow ‘felt prompted to visit the… Read More ›
Is Mormonism Ditching prophets 2: Sack the Seers, Summon the Scholars
Last time I asked, “Is Mormonism ditching prophets?” we looked at the fact that Mormonism taught and practiced racial discrimination as a key doctrine for almost 140 years of its 180 year history. What is surprising is that today’s Mormon prophets insist they have no idea where this teaching originated, or why it was taught,… Read More ›
Is Mormonism ditching Prophets? A look at the 2013 edition of the LDS Scriptures
Is the Mormon Church turning from “living prophets” to academia to gain traction in the 21st century? Are Mormons turning to prophets for homiletic inspiration and academics for professional credibility in the 24/7 internet world? Does the Mormon message of prophets mean anything anymore? The unique claim of Mormons is that they are led by… Read More ›
General Conference: April 2013 Saturday Afternoon Review, by Mike Thomas
I have picked out for comment some themes I see running through the Saturday afternoon session of the Mormon conference. The theme of families increasingly causes problems for them and I touch on the changes made in their new edition of the Scriptures, a subject I will be covering in more detail soon. Particularly interesting… Read More ›
Mormonism’s “Living prophets”
As we anticipate the Mormon annual conference this coming weekend it is good to remember the message of Mormonism centres on “living prophets”. John Taylor, third Mormon president, wrote, “the principle of present revelation…is the very foundation of our religion” (Journal of Discourses, p.371). Elder Joseph W. McMurrin was one of the First Seven Presidents… Read More ›
Teachings of the prophet Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 6, Becoming Perfect
In this chapter of Lorenzo Snow we come to a favourite theme, how Mormons are to become perfect. At first it is a rather helpful and encouraging message designed to spur readers on to persevere. The first two pages are taken up by a heart-warming account of his encouraging a group of young elders (now… Read More ›
