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>>>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 >> >><font size=4 color="#006600"> >>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 >></font> > >That was pretty good Cezoram. Most of the people still >in the CoC concert hall have become tone deaf. > >Lois
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