‘What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?’ Luke 15:4
Today we’re taking a brief look at three of the talks given at General Conference in April 2020.
We pray that Christians will stop and pray for those who listened to the lies at this conference, and when given the opportunity, share the truth!
The main theme at the conference was Joe Smith, of this there is no doubt. Although events from the pandemic loomed overhead, the Church’s focus never strayed from their true agenda.
Paying homage to Smith has always been, and will continue to be the same, until they confess their sin of worshiping false gods, and practicing in the myriad of idolatrous behaviors in the temples.
They’ve rejected the fact that our true Shepherd has always looked over His flock, and faithfully so. Grasping at other isms, and what-ifs has sadly taken over every thought in their quest for the impossible godhood they seek.
Personal Experiences Light Our Path
Spiritually Defining Memories “Eighteen years after the First Vision, the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote an extensive account of his experience. … In his difficult hours, Joseph’s memory reached back nearly two decades to the certainty of God’s love for him and the events that welcomed in the long-foretold Restoration. …
There is a lesson for us in the Prophet Joseph’s example. Along with the peaceful direction we receive from the Holy Ghost, from time to time, God powerfully and very personally assures each of us that He knows us and loves us…Then, in our moments of difficulty, the Savior brings these experiences back into our mind. …
You might think of your spiritual memories this way…When personal difficulty, doubt, or discouragement darken our path…the spiritually defining memories from our book of life are like luminous stones that help brighten the road ahead…” — Neil L. Andersen
There are many questions we could ask Mr. Andersen, but the overriding one is this –
Why isn’t God’s word a light unto our paths? Psalm 119:105
Jesus, and Other Men Were Crucified and Resurrected
Hosanna and Hallelujah—The Living Jesus Christ: The Heart of Restoration and Easter “…Today we celebrate restoration and resurrection. With you, I rejoice in the ongoing Restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. … Mortal men were cruelly crucified and later resurrected. But only the living Jesus Christ in His perfect resurrected form still bears the marks of crucifixion in His hands, feet, and side. Only He can say, “I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.” Only He can say: “I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God.”” — Gerrit Gong
We have just one question with Mr. Gong’s talk. Who are these other men that were crucified and resurrected?
Doubting God’s Provision
A Perfect Brightness of Hope “Last October, President Russell M. Nelson invited us to look ahead to this April 2020 conference by each of us in our own way looking back to see the majesty of God’s hand in restoring the gospel of Jesus Christ. … In that imagined setting, we asked ourselves, “What’s missing here? What do we wish we had? What do we hope God will provide in response to our spiritual longing?” Well, for one thing, we realized that two centuries ago we would have dearly hoped for the restoration of a truer concept of God than most in that day had, hidden as He often seemed to be behind centuries of error and misunderstanding.
To borrow a phrase from William Ellery Channing, a prominent religious figure of the day, we would have looked for the “parental character of God,” which Channing considered “the first great doctrine of Christianity.” Such a doctrine would have recognized Deity as a caring Father in Heaven, rather than a harsh judge dispensing stern justice or as an absentee landlord …He certainly would not have been a cold, arbitrary autocrat who predestined a select few for salvation and then consigned the rest of the human family to damnation.
… had we lived in those first years of the 19th century, we would have realized with great alarm that doubts about the reality of the Savior’s life and Resurrection were beginning to take significant hold within Christendom. …
Observing the Christian world in that day, we would have hoped to find someone authorized by God with true priesthood authority… …
Brothers and sisters, we know what some of the religious deficiencies in the early 19th century were. Furthermore, we know something of today’s religious shortcomings that still leave the hunger and hope of some unfulfilled. We know a variety of those dissatisfactions are leading some away from traditional ecclesiastical institutions.
We also know, as one frustrated writer wrote, that “many religious leaders [of the day] seem clueless” in addressing this kind of decline, offering in response “a thin gruel of therapeutic deism, cheap symbolic activism, carefully couched heresy, [or sometimes just] uninspiring nonsense” —and all at a time when the world needs so much more, when the rising generation deserves so much more, and when in Jesus’s day He offered so much more. …
I give thanks, my brothers and sisters, for all we have been given in this last and greatest of all dispensations, the dispensation of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. …
We have every reason to hope for blessings even greater than those we have already received because this is the work of Almighty God, this is the Church of continuing revelation, this is the gospel of Christ’s unlimited grace and benevolence…” — Jeffrey Holland
Let’s take a quick look at Mr. Holland’s claims and compare them to God’s word!
William Ellery Channing was a Universalist pastor who preached during the days of Joseph Smith. It’s no wonder Mr. Channing’s idea of God would differ greatly from the orthodox view of God. More concerning in Mr. Holland’s use of Channing, is the analysis he threw out there. Speaking of God, Mr. Holland damned himself by stating a loving God wouldn’t predestine a select few for salvation and consign the rest to damnation. It’s no surprise that this is exactly what the Mormon Church does. Their pseudo salvation of baptizing dead people shows their mistrust of God who has always told mankind He knows each of us by name.
Furthermore, being well read has afforded Mr. Holland the opportunity to effortlessly quote from those who teach at most prestigious of institutions. Case in point is when he referred to a recent article from the Witherspoon Institute who looked at how society has changed the identity of the true God in the Bible.
The problem? He took what was said out of context, and used it as an apology to further the Church’s agenda. In essence, the LDS Church is living proof of what the author (RJ Snell) was claiming. Holland’s other claim of hoping for changes to happen where all people regardless of race will know the truth, is contradictory to their very canon.
Lastly, why are they hoping for greater blessings than what God has already provided?
We have to ask — what more could He have done? He gave His Only Son to pay for the penalty of our sin. If God’s own blood isn’t sufficient, nothing ever will be.
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
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