My wife often struggles with the dual nature of the church where they teach one thing and do the opposite. For example the church teaches that you should speak the truth in all things then lies and hides the truth. Worst of all, the members see the lies and turn a blind eye.
After much thought I believe I can explain why.
We all know the story of the sword of Laban from the Book of Mormon and how God tells nephi to assassinate king Laban because βitβs better for one man to perish than an entire nation to dwindle in unbelief.β
If you take this statement to its logical conclusion, there isnβt single rule that the god/the church/prophets wont break in order to save godβs people from unbelief.
The Book of Mormon teachers that the church has Carte Blanche as long as they are saving the people from unbelief.
Update to the update. Purple is price reduced to $50. Update: Green pen is pending. Purple is still available.
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Hey everyone! Iβm looking to try a little something new, and if given the choice, which would you choose and why?
TL;DR If you are ever "led by the spirit" or commanded by God to kill someone, guess what? You're wrong. Also you need help like right now!
In this past General Conference, nine speakers referenced Nephi, three of whom specifically referenced Nephi obtaining the brass plates:
Elder Ciro Schmeil of the Seventy titled his talk, "Faith to Act and Become." He quoted Nephi saying, "βI was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.β Then he stated, "This is how the Lord works as we put forth effort and act, even when we do not have a clear understanding of what needs to be done." In this case, what "needed to be done" was to kill a a drunk man by beheading him.
Elder MoisΓ©s Villanueva of the Seventy titled his talk, "Favored of the Lord in All My Days." He mentioned Nephi obtaining the brass plates as a trial in his life for which he was favored of God. Chopping off someone's head would be a bit of a trial I suppose.
Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela of the Seventy titled his talk, "Deepening Our Conversion to Jesus Christ.". He stated that the scriptures contained on the brass plates were important to Lehi's family because they revealed God's will, much like the liahona did. He stated that Nephi, ". . . became aware that the Lord brings about great things through small means." Those "small means" included killing someone to obtain the plates and then finding a magic compass which could access direct writing from God (except for the information on the plates apparently).
Has there ever been a more dangerous idea put forth than that of God leading or commanding one person to kill another? A few months ago my fifteen year old son confessed that he had always been confused by this story and asked, "why couldn't God just deliver the brass plates to Nephi through an angel or something? Why did somebody have to die?" Good question son!
I mentioned this to the EQ president and his response was that it could have been a test of Nephi's willingness to obey God at all costs, similar to Abraham's test of willingness to sacrifice his own son. My response was that one nice thing about being an apostate was that I didn't have to believe the story of Abraham any more either!
Why didn't the Lafferty brothers get a pass when God told them to kill a sister-in-law and baby? Because God didn't tell them to kill a sister-in-law and baby.
Why don't Chad and Lori Daybell get a pass when God told them to kill Lori's kids? Because God didn't tell
... keep reading on reddit β‘
How is Nephi coming into contact with the dead body of Laban, and perhaps wearing his clothes, to be reconciled with the law of Moses, eg in Numbers 19
β13 Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.β
A few people were wondering how he managed to get on with such a dodgy history. Well, as a rich private school boy in a sporting school on the path to going pro, heβs gotten away with a lot
