Correspondence - The Changing Church

Craig,

I dropped Denver.  He appears to have gone apostate.  Perhaps he was always apostate.  I don’t know. 

Here’s what I believe is substantive: If my faith and testimony are evidenced by the spiritual things happening in my life, I then don’t care what malcontents think.  It doesn't really matter.  If signs, wonders and miracles are following my faith why would I doubt the gospel and the Church?  People bothered by the Church seem to have missed the mark.  Evidences of faith indicate that one has faith or is trying to have faith (Jacob 4:6, 2 Nephi 26:13).  If one is discontent, ask God what you’re doing wrong.  Ask God to order and maintain your life.  Be meek and humble.  Be positive, hopeful, kind and loving.  Discontent people are not that.

The Church is changing.  I believe for the good.  Those fifteen at the top have power and authority to make whatever changes are necessary for the Church to progress.  My intellectual friends will say,"it doesn't conform to Joseph Smith, the Apostles are changing doctrine".  My zealot friends will say, "the Church is following the world, they are all going to hell".  My liberal friends will say, "The Church needs to go further and offer women the Priesthood and seal gay people".  My NRA Captain Moroni Warrior Cult friends will say, "The government is going to round us up!  The Constitution is not being followed!  When they declare martial law, they'll have to tear my gun out of my cold, dead hands" (actual quote)".  The humble followers of Christ say, "Stay calm, stand in holy places, let the Spirit guide, fear not".

Everybody (but the Humble Followers) have some level of ..... mental illness?  Nibley thought the same thing was happening to the Jews in Christ's time under the subjugation of Romans.  Many Jews were going crazy.  "We are the chosen people", "The Messiah will come and destroy the bad guys", "If I keep every rule, God is with me (Pharisees)", "Let's attack the Romans at night (Zealots)", "Let's depart into the wilderness to avoid everything (Essenes)".

Remember, there's just as many stories of willful, humble subjugation (Christ's teachings, Limhi, Helam, Anti Nephi Lehi's, Ester, primitive Christians, etc.)  in the scriptures as there are stories of fighting for one's liberty.  He who fights by the sword (in the last days) will die by the sword.  Where was the Captain Moroni archetype in 1913?

Love,

Scott

From: Scott Nelson [mailto:srnelson1513@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2015 11:24 AM
To: Nelson, Scott R.
Subject: Fwd: [Scott Nelson Blog - Unrefined] Thoughts on

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Craig Nelson <craignelson8@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Mar 31, 2015 at 2:19 PM
Subject: Re: [Scott Nelson Blog - Unrefined] Thoughts on
To: Greenscooter <srnelson1513@gmail.com>

Scott,

Thank you for the blog.  I agree, especially about "eliminate poverty among us."  The only problem is that some people will try to "eliminate" them instead of helping and serving them.

What's happening on the Denver S. front.  I keep hearing comments but no real substance.  For someone that did not want to start a church, he has done a pretty good job at starting a church [fellowship].

Thanks,

Craig


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