Posted by:
westerly62
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Date: September 14, 2016 02:28PM
Interesting post about Elder Bednar and Area Authority Elder Hamilton kickin' it old school in Africa with blatantly unapologetic Cultural Imperialism.
http://www.timesandseasons.org/index.php/2016/09/guest-post-elder-bednar-in-rwanda/'
The third question began with an observation that the room was not as full as it could have been and a lament that bringing more people into the church is difficult without church materials, including the Book of Mormon, in Kinyarwanda. He asked if Elder Bednar could help expedite the translation process.
Elder Bednar asked area authority Elder Hamilton to respond. Elder Hamilton said that similar questions are frequent in his travels across Africa. He announced that the translation of the Book of Mormon into Kinyarwanda has begun but that it is a careful, long process that will take some time yet. He then reminded listeners that the official language of the church in Rwanda is English. Throughout Africa, he explained, the church is deeply concerned that the church could become “fractured.” The directive to hold meetings in English will allow, he suggested, a “strong and solid foundation.” Things will be easier in a generation, he acknowledged, but we must be loving in the meantime.
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This same young man asked the fourth question: “We are one people but [have] many customs. Can we be allowed to worship our Lord according to our traditions?” In his response Elder Bednar encouraged members to focus on the “culture of Christ,” a gospel culture that has universal reach. Members cannot and should not be influenced [in their gospel lives] by “other cultural things.”
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It's hard to believe but Elder Bednar is everything that Elder Packer used to be but without Packer's subtlety. ;P Please, please, please do us exmo critics a favor and keep this guy out front spreading the LDS Gospel.
I've been concerned about the supposed success that TSCC is having in Africa but now having seen that they are completely unwilling to even pretend that they're not engaged in the kind of religious and cultural imperialism that the rest of the civilized world has condemned and eschewed, I'm feeling better now.
Keep it up Church! You guys are your own worst enemy.