Today we’ve pulled a few interesting things from a talk given by LDS apostle, Quentin Cook. To read their article in full see General Conference, ‘Bishops—Shepherds over the Lord’s Flock’, April 2021.
As a summary, Mr. Cook spoke at the priesthood session on the duties of LDS bishops and the role they should have in the lives of those under their care. Below is a list of the quotes followed by what the Lord has said in His word.
First and foremost, however, we mustn’t forget to pray for the salvation of the kids involved, and those bishops as well!
- ‘the bishop coordinates the work of salvation and exaltation in the ward’
This is a dead work because there’s no such thing as exaltation. God said He is the only God there is – Isaiah 43:10-11.
- ‘The bishop should assign the day-to-day responsibility for sharing the gospel, and…’
Proverbs 16:9 says God directs our paths!
- ‘The bishop has a paramount role in serving as a shepherd to guide the rising generation, including young single adults…’
See Psalm 23:6 – the Lord is my shepherd!
- ‘He has doctrinal responsibility for the ward as a whole, but he also has specific doctrinal responsibility for the priests quorum’
2 Timothy 3:16 says His word is the teacher!
- ‘They determine whether they will qualify for the temple…mission… married in the temple…’
God alone is the judge – Matthew 7:1-5.
- ‘help youth who are in conflict with their parents’
The Bible and a very reputable therapist should be in charge. Not a lay minister who has no training, much less someone who isn’t schooled in biblical doctrine – Eph. 6:1.
- ‘Allow the bishop to be your friend and counselor’
This seems like a very unwise thing to do.
- ‘We all need to repent daily, as President Nelson has taught. Please talk to your bishop about any matter in which a common judge can assist you…’
This mimics Catholicism which is what Joe Smith railed against, hence, Mormonism today. Here’s a link of other talks they gave at General Conference.
With Love in Christ —
Michelle
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After murdering several woman in Washington State, Ted Bundy went to Utah, and was a convert to the church. Why did the Bishop allow a serial killer into the church…where was the Bishop’s “discernment?”
And since the Bishops are lay clergy, why are they still allowed to ask inappropriate questions of minors alone in his office? It’s just asking for trouble.
None of the talks last weekend were inspired by God.
He was another reason it was scary to live in UT.
Good grief. I had no idea about Bundy! They are all frauds. My Utah sheep-herder, California State Farm Ins agent father became the bishop of our ward after I was married. He had no training in counseling of any kind. He was making nice money, however. That seems to be one criterion for ‘upper management’ positions in the church. He did remark once that he had no idea what ‘great kids’ we were until people started coming to him about their problems. The one needful thing is to submit to the Lord and sit at His feet. The church misses the point, always.
It’s all very sad and alarming at the same time.
Here’s the scenario of the bishop of my ward when I was growing up –
When I was in my early teens I went with my mother to one of the homes she was assigned to for Visiting Teaching. The woman was probably in her mid-50’s and recently widowed. The bishop made an unusual appearance and by the end of the visit had arranged for her to meet a man in a nearby ward who had also recently lost his spouse.
I don’t recall the whole conversation, but I distinctly remember the bishop telling the woman the guy was looking for a wife so he could be sure of having her and his deceased wife in heaven. Her husband had never been a member so she said that was okay.
When my mother and I got in the car to go home, she said, ‘Isn’t it nice to know they take care of every little detail in life?’
I couldn’t believe she felt that way. When she asked me what I thought I asked why the guy needed 2 wives in heaven and didn’t think the bishop needed to be playing cupid.
She didn’t like my answer. 🙁 The rest of the way home she didn’t say a word.
What I didn’t know then is how this was a standard practice. Around the same time their prophet at the time (I think it was Spencer Kimball) said at a GC that it was comforting to him knowing that he’ll have both his deceased wife and current wife in heaven. I discovered that ‘gem’ a few years back. It confirmed to me as an adult I hadn’t imaged that strange scenario!
As I said, it’s all very sad and downright alarming.
Can’t ‘like’ your story, of course. It’s all so tragic and the worst part is, it’s on going. Oh Lord, expose them so there is no escaping the lie.
I’ve given the scenario some thought. And I can’t figure out how it can possibly work. What if the widow/ widower were married to faithful saints and remarry? Who goes where? I’m assuming SWK wives were all faithful. Will they not be called by their first husband or do they now belong to SWK? What about the kids?
I’m sorry how does this work???
Well it sounds like the church is being a little more accepting of singles, so maybe this might a good time to join in on all the celestial fun. So the bishop can marry me off😀…NO THANK YOU 🤨
Hey Sandra what part of Cali are you from? I was born and raised in Long Beach, I now live in Norwalk.
I was born in SF and raised in Sunnyvale before it was silicon valley. My husband and I moved to Corona in SoCal….never felt like home. We ‘fled’ to NC 11 yrs ago. Praising His Name for Who He is and what He has done!
Small world Sandra…I lived in Corona in the late 90’s off of Sixth and Lincoln. I attended Crossroads on Kellogg.
[…] 1.According to the Church only the Mormon bishop can determine if someone has been sincere enough to be forgiven. For more info see LDS Quotes from Conference Priesthood Session. […]