Posted by:
Elder Berry
(
)
Date: September 27, 2019 01:03PM
Back 16 years ago I found out unflattering history in early Mormonism. It was my tipping point. Much in the Mormon theological "continuing" of its revelations had turned me off. My testimony was hanging like I had thought that our National Constitution was hanging on - on a thread.
A big part of the weighing down of my testimony were the cracks in my doubts-bolstering shelf. A huge crack was caused by some new information I read at the time which was an Ensign article written by Russell Nelson called, "Divine Love." It was a "rational" explanation who God just couldn't love me as much as other Mormons due to my evil thoughts and non-adherence to complete obedience to the Mormon ways.
God's love was something I had taken for granted in my time as a Mormon.
This was the sentiment I was raised to believe was acting like one had a love like the one God had for us.
"I don’t recall much of her prayer, the tears and the joy and the sweetness, but I remember one thought: she thanked God for the unconditional love she had received. This life doesn’t give one very many chances to feel exultant and a little successful, but I felt wonderful that night, and thank God that she really believes and understands what she said. We cannot, my dear brethren, condition our love by a beard or beads or habits or strange viewpoints. There have to be standards and they must be enforced, but our love must be unconditional."
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1971/10/love-unconditional?lang=engBut Nelson's article turned this on its head. So much so that 13 years after it was delivered to Mormons Mormons are glad that newer apostles are clarifying it and softening its harshness.
"So, I can live without the phrase “unconditional love” for a while, but I hope Christofferson repaired Nelson’s article enough that actual “conditional love” won’t creep in."
https://www.timesandseasons.org/harchive/2016/10/conditional-love-is-back/index.htmlAnd Nelson is now "The Prophet." Shouldn't HE be clarifying what he wrote about God's love? Shouldn't HIS pen be lighting up with clarification on this?
And so to my point. If you are questioning your religion please look to this example of how Mormon revelation is lacking. Back in the 70s when I was a child I was taught a lot of things that weren't true but I was given a religious education in love and thought that though The Old Testament prophets were prophets of a jealous and angry god Jesus had softened that guy.
At the moment I was questioning and doubting the current prophet and then apostle laid out how wrong my early Mormon education was and over a decade later other Mormons and newer apostles are struggling with it.
That to me is a HUGE red flag. If you want to see how wrong Mormonism is, look no further than God's Love. That should be something they have nailed down. God's mouthpiece and special witnesses and all.