Re: The Concert Hall -- The Blind Leading the Blind Discussion Board

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Date Posted: 15:15:10 11/29/01 Thu
Author: Lois
Subject: Re: The Concert Hall
In reply to: cezoram 's message, "The Concert Hall" on 00:26:21 11/29/01 Thu

>>Actually, I think you are coming around. I was kind of
>>hoping you would head this way because it seems too
>>much emphasis is placed on whether President McMurray
>>is a true prophet or not. You have made some very good
>>points as to why we should rely on the scripture and
>>the Holy Spirit, lest we are led astray.
>>
>>For clarity, let me explain why I posted the quote. I
>>was simply trying to show that people view the
>>scriptures as Holy but even the founders of our
>>movement have referred to them in different ways. Back
>>to the point, while Joseph Smith III referred to them
>>as "auxiliary", the church statement says they are,
>>"additional scriptural witnesses" which fits better
>>into your definition. At least to me.
>>
>>As far as the quartet analogy, I kinda had a feeling
>>you were going to elaborate on that one. Actually, I
>>had thought you would illustrate the damage that can
>>be done to four stringed instruments with one string
>>that has lost its tension. But still, your point is
>>valid, if one considered the church in apostasy and
>>the musicians inadequately skilled, the music would
>>not be very appealing. I would suggest that the music
>>is coming of age, and frankly that has been difficult
>>for me as well.
>>
>>Not to beat this quartet into oblivion, please allow
>>me to suggest that through the history of our faith
>>tradition, the musicians have been changed a few
>>times, the instruments patched and repaired, the
>>strings replaced, and even the individual parts and
>>movements rearranged. But brother, it is my testimony
>>that the piece is the same, and the conductor is in
>>charge with power. While there may be mistakes and
>>miscues, the orchestra is looking to Him as he
>>conducts His people. Eyes strain to see the mark, the
>>heart yearns for perfection and the Spirit aches to
>>know the will of the conductor.
>>
>>This church has a history of following the lead of the
>>all powerful, all knowing, all loving composer and
>>conductor. Unfortunately the church has not always
>>seen the signs from the conductor as He leads us to
>>His will, but for nearly 200 years, this restored
>>church of Jesus Christ has actively sought to
>>understand and then to act.
>>
>>Your forum is called "the blind leading the blind" and
>>in this discussion you have made some very good points
>>that a prophet is human. That leaders are not
>>infallible and even make mistakes. I never once
>>claimed that President McMurray was perfect. Frankly,
>>I don't think anyone is (or was). I show respect and
>>give honor to the office because it is due. I love and
>>respect President McMurray as I would any person who
>>has stood and accepted the call to serve God through
>>Jesus Christ.
>>
>>"I believe in the doctrines of honesty and truth." I
>>believe it is our duty to pray to God, learn of Him
>>and His will. Learn from the example of the prophets
>>and disciples of the past, but we must only worship
>>God in heaven. I heard the story of the restoration
>>and I tried my best not to listen. I turned from it
>>and avoided it. I tried to convince myself it was not
>>true. God worked through this church and He was able
>>to reach my heart. I accept the restoration. I believe
>>in God, in His Son Jesus Christ and I believe with all
>>my heart that Joseph Smith Jr. helped us heed the call
>>to restore His (God's) church. I have made a
>>commitment to God to serve Him in His restored church
>>and here I am.
>>
>>I hear what you are saying. I have heard it from many
>>who have left the church. I have heard it from many in
>>other churches. Some of my dearest friends are
>>Baptists I think are convinced I belong to some kind
>>of Joseph Smith cult. I have talked with Methodist
>>pastors and leaders in other religions who are quite
>>convinced this church is wrong. But here is the rub,
>>my commitment stands. I trust in God to lead His
>>church. I trust that God will speak to the hearts of
>>the restored priesthood, the devoted members and those
>>called to lead. I trust that God's will has been and
>>will continue to be done in this church He restored
>>through a visit to a young man. No sir, my commitment
>>stands and I will follow God no matter who (or how)
>>people try to change me.
>>
>>If I listened to my own knowledge, I would have never
>>accepted the restoration. If I listened to my own
>>knowledge, I would have never stood and prayed for
>>another. If I trusted in my own ability, I would have
>>never accepted the call to priesthood. It all started
>>with a prayer... Lord, please show me the truth. So...
>>here I am. I trusted in God and it has lead me to this
>>spot. Now my prayer is, please Lord, give me the
>>strength to follow.
>>
>>I hope I have not offended you and if I have, I am
>>sorry. I believe you are wrong about your analogy of
>>the church, but I respect your right to believe the
>>way you do. We all have to make choices, I made mine,
>>you made yours, may God bless us both with patience
>>for each other.
>>
>>I am leaving now. I appreciate your willingness to
>>discuss. I have to report for duty once again and will
>>be gone for a time. God bless you and may God in
>>Heaven protect us all.
>>
>>Your servant in Christ,
>>David
>
>
>David,
>
>Since you have mentioned a conductor and composer, I
>feel that another analogy is in order. I believe that
>Jesus Christ is the great conductor and composer. He
>is God in the flesh. God throughout the history of
>mankind has established His orchestra and has
>handpicked the members of this orchestra. The members
>of this orchestra have always been men. You may ask
>why? It is the plan of the great conductor. Jesus
>wrote the symphony in the beginning. His orchestra
>has performed this symphony at different times in
>history, when the audience, which is the church
>members, as well as the rest of the world, was
>listening. But the audience does not always come into
>the concert hall to listen. Other things seem more
>important, or they may doubt that the symphony is
>really that good. In fact, those who have never been
>inside the concert hall during a performance have
>doubted that there really is a conductor and an
>orchestra to play a symphony.
>
>But aside from this, the symphony should never change.
> Jesus wrote it perfectly the first time. He calls
>for a man (prophet) to be His concertmaster. In an
>orchestra, the concertmaster is the first chair
>violinist. The concertmaster leads the orchestra
>under the direction of the conductor. All is fine if
>the concertmaster follows the will of the conductor
>all the time. But this has not been the case. At
>various times, the concertmaster has changed the
>symphony, changed the personnel of the orchestra, and
>even chased the conductor from the concert hall. Then
>he has established the building as a new concert hall,
>with a conductor of his own choosing.
>
>But time and time again, Jesus has restored the
>symphony, and found new personnel for his orchestra,
>so that the performance will sound the same as before:
>perfect.
>
>In the last 40 years or so, Jesus' symphony and
>orchestra has been corrupted by the concertmaster and
>the people who support him. This concertmaster has
>now called women into the orchestra to replace some of
>the men. He has modified the symphony, so gradually,
>that many of the musicians in the orchestra, as well
>as a part of the audience, do not notice the
>difference. It has been so gradual, that they do not
>notice that Jesus is no longer the one standing in the
>conductor's place. Instead, there is an imposter.
>
>The current concertmaster, which happens to be the
>leader of the Community of Christ, has everyone
>convinced that Jesus is still the conductor and that
>the symphony is still the same. Perhaps, because he
>is convinced of it himself.
>
>But the truth is, Jesus has been chased out of the
>concert hall, and His symphony has been corrupted.
>Yet, He is not frustrated, because He knows that He
>will restore it again.
>
>I left the concert hall, along with many others,
>because I knew the symphony be played is not the
>perfect symphony. Nor is the conductor, the true
>Jesus Christ. Most of the people still in the concert
>hall no longer recognize the difference. Many of them
>may not have been in the concert hall when the perfect
>symphony was played, so they do not have a point of
>reference. Some of the audience feels that they can
>change it back to the way it was, and invite Jesus
>back in. But this is not so.
>
>I know that I have found the concert hall again, which
>has the perfect conductor and perfect symphony being
>played in it. In fact, I am part of the orchestra.
>And as I hear, more people are leaving the concert
>hall I refer to as the Community of Christ, and are
>looking for the concert hall that I have found again.
>It is the one with Jesus as the conductor. It is the
>one which plays the correct symphony.
>
>Amen.
>
>Cezoram
>

That was pretty good Cezoram. Most of the people still in the CoC concert hall have become tone deaf.

Lois

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