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To make up for the horrible Packer talk I posted I would like to share two General Conference talks that I love. They both are amazing, and both caused quite a lot of controversy when given. You may have already seen these, if not… you are in for a treat! link to talk #2…
http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1376 This first talk was given clear back April 9, 1932 by Stephen L. Richards. The content upset Heber J Grant, and was therefore NOT included in the Conference edition of the Ensign. A copy was found in the archives of the LDS Historical Department and reprinted in 1979 by Sunstone Magazine.
Here are the final words of his address to give you a small sampling…
“I have said these things because I fear dictatorial dogmatism, rigidity of procedure and intolerance even more than I fear cigarettes, cards, and other devices the adversary may use to nullify faith and kill religion. Fanaticism and bigotry have been the deadly enemies of true religion in the long past. They have made it forbidding, shut it up in cold grey walls of monastery and nunnery, out of the sunlight and fragrance of the growing world. They have garbed it in black and then in white, when in truth it is neither black nor white, any more than life is black or white, for religion is life abundant, glowing life, with all its shades, colors and hues, as the children of men reflect in the patterns of their lives the radiance of the Holy Spirit in varying degrees.
I pray that men may understand God and the Church,and I pray that the Church may understand men and human nature. With such understandings there must come sympathy and love. Truth and love will save the world.”
That was a very courageous and important talk. Thanks for sharing it. I guess we didn’t go out and put ash trays at all our doors after that talk? Great talk! I had not heard of this one before. I’ve always known this kind of thing was out there in the church — but didn’t really know where to find it until I started following these blogs. Thanks When I read of talks like this being archived and not more easily available it gives three options: 1) Reject the notion of inspiration at all. How can two inspired men hold different views. Isn’t God speaking to them?
2) Assume Elder Lee, as the senior authority is right and Elder Richards was uninspired.
3) Change my paradigm. Accept that church leaders are not the mouthpiece of God in the way I once thought. Accept that most of what they say is based on their environmental upbringing and personal experiences. Accept that while they can give good advice, the thinking most certainly has not been done. Accept that much of what’s many of them say is wise council. But not all applicable to me of I choose to ignore it.
It may be no surprise that 3 is where I reach.
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