- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Wow, I missed some of those last responses before I posted. Right on brethren and sistren!
Glad to have you back again scoutmaster Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
These conversations have saved me from epic disasters in my relationships with my family members. I now feel I have the tools to be more genuine related to my beliefs about the Book of Mormon and the Church. I have been feeling very alone, I wish I would have found this cite sooner, it was hard when my safety blanket was ripped away from me when I realized the truth of church history. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I would read it like any other piece of “wisdom literature” as Stephen R. Covey called “scripture” — to appeal to a wider audience than Mormons or even religious people. I would read it just as I would read “On Becoming a Leader”, “The Art of Leadership” and other books that that have truth in them. I would discard those parts that don’t resonate with me, or don’t seem to to apply, or even seem untrue. I would also let how it makes me feel influence me. I always did feel a kind of pulse or peace when I read certain parts of the Book of Mormon. Such as the natural man is an enemy to God, the Helaman verses about the effect of fasting on faith, and the pithier phrases such as “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass”.
I would also read to personalize it to my own situation. And I would read it less frequently than the Church says if I felt there was other “wisdom literature” that is more applicable to me at a certain time in my life.
I also find scripture heavy on concepts and light on implementation or specific practices. So, I would have a balanced reading approach characterized by “wisdom literature” reading and also reading from the best thinkers and practitioners of the day who have addressed the relationship, health, or financial problems I may be facing — as most problems fit into those three buckets.
I do not dismiss the trouble that exists because scripture has been taught to me as a literal history, and I formed my spiritual thoughts with that only to later learn of the inaccuracies, inherent biases and outright problems in the bible…which was softened by the belief the book of mormon was needed for this purpose…to provide more clear and less tainted scriptures to us in our day. …only to learn about the book of mormon problems.
That is not fun. I do not dismiss the challenge that exists to try to think it doesn’t matter if it is historical and factual or not, as long as it is inspiring. There are problems to work through when trying to be mormon and trying to accept scripture as historically or factually wrong.
But what is the alternative?? It is what it is. I can’t change it.
I think the important thing is to know that it doesn’t have to be ALL exactly factual and true or else it is all worthless, made up, deceitful crap.
Life can be enriched when we embrace paradox. It is true…and it is not true.
I don’t believe the falsehoods in the book of mormon are significantly requiring dismissal of teaching gospel principles to me in my life. I believe it creates a struggle to verbalize this to others in the church and navigate through a church that often feels so literal and certain of truth.
That is the journey that helps me learn compassion. Love God. Love my neighbor. While living in the real world with these real issues.
Regardless if horses and chariots didn’t exist, or if the locations are literally wrong…. this speaks to me…
Quote:26 And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;
27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
28 Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness.
I have not heard powerful words of wisdom like that in other literature.
So…it seems I have to reconcile the fact that I believe Joseph was working in his mind, not off plates, Nephi may never have existed, like Job in the OT, and yet…it is scripture from God different than the Lord of The Rings literature.
It is scripture. I just work through my acceptance of what scripture is. Then it doesn’t matter what others believe it to be.
Truth be told, I can’t read the BofM right now, and not sure I ever will. If it could be discussed at church within the context of mythology and what can we learn from it, I might pick it back up, but I dount that will ever happen. In addition, I just don’t really find it inspiring. So I have set it to the side because I have 10 reading wish lists on my Amazon account and I have read a lot of amazing books this year that have been inspiring, informative and fun to read. If you don’t feel like reading it don’t, and don’t feel bad about it. Like Ann said, find your own watering holes, whatever they may be.
StormLight, I just want to say, ‘welcome’ to this site. I hope to hear more from you.
NP,
I think one thing that happens to all of us in varying degrees and during different periods along our timelines is that we over-focus on the negative. We see things in the Church, in the culture, in the scriptures or in the doctrine that we don’t like and we filter out all the things that we might like if we gave them equal weight.
N’oublie Pas wrote:The Bible also bothers me too, since a lot of it is used to justify misogyny, homophobia, and racism.
That’s right, it has. But the Bible has also been used to encourage people to live God-centered lives; to be forgiving, charitable, and happy. In the 4th Century Roman Emperor Julian (a non-Christian) grumbled that Christians took care of the poor and the sick, even those who weren’t themselves Christian. He was annoyed that this resulted in making non-Christians look bad.Life is full of good and bad. Don’t let the bad prevent you from finding the good.
I like the reminder from OON. That doesn’t mean that the bad just should be swept under the rug. It is there, and it can be problematic.
My approach over the years was to stay balanced and study out and flush out the “bad” to me that I don’t agree with, but cling to the good that I need. I trust the lord can guide me and my spirit to discern, and realize that while I see something as “Bad” for me now…it could be just that I don’t understand it fully, or the culture it came from, or the language. I am open to learning. But until I can see it otherwise, there are things in the bible I let go of as not for me, not for our day. And those don’t invalidate all the teachings of the gospel.
I listen to podcasts that call into question the truth of the church, and general conference talks. I see both sides. And I choose from my point of view what I believe.
NP, I just read something last night that reminded me of this thread. (I’ve really needed everyone’s comments right now – thank you.) Maybe I’m reading it too simply, but this says to me that truth and wisdom will come at us from every direction: Quote:Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak into them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.
For behold, I shall speak into the Jews
and they shall write it; and I shall also speak into the Nephites and they shall write it;and I shall also speak into the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all the nations of the earth and they shall write it.”2 Nephi 29:10-12 Overlooking that I don’t believe Nephites wrote anything, I take the larger point that God has been the inspiration behind a world of writing.
Life is to short to read the same book over and over the way the church wants you to read scriptures. I think I have a good understanding of what the scriptures say by now, at least what I need to know for average daily life
I have moved on to trying to learn new things.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.