Soapboxing...PS

I was trying to find a quote I'd saved and found this blog I never shared.  Evidently it was right after a general Conference.  I'm thinking Oct. 2013.  One thing for sure...I have strong feelings that have not changed about certain things.  So I'm putting a bit more, a PS of sorts, to my previous Soapboxing...

My gratitude for my testimony of living Prophets is just huge!!!!  I just loved every single talk and they all spoke to my soul and nourished me.  I am so thankful for what these talks mean to me.  Amazingly they are already in place online to be listened to and we decided to start with the Sunday morning session and just go through them in order.  Usually we pick and choose different ones and maybe even one from a past Conference.  No better spiritual boost.

Elder Hales set the entire tone of Conference when he explained how Conference talks come about and promises to those who listen, ponder/think/mull over what they've heard and then endeavor to live it.  I love IF/THEN concepts.  It's not yet in online print to where I can copy a couple of statements for you but IF I had kiddos at home, I'd gather them every day and have them sit and listen, it's only 15 minutes, to a talk.  They would see the speaker, become familiar with his face, learn to recognize his voice and they would hear that powerful testimony at the end of each talk.  Yes, there are women speakers also!!  Those women and their callings will change but the Apostles will stay for life.  Read the promises of General Conference in Elder Hales talk.   Take advantage of it!!!  15 minutes of time could be the saving factor in your life and your family.

True, I'm an admitted Conference nut and have been so for years.  I make no apologies.  That is the way I am.  Monday morning, in that sort of pre-awake/dozing mode, I was thinking of Conference and things I'd heard that impressed me and that I could hardly wait to hear again.  It was rather vague and I couldn't really put the thoughts with the speakers but I was still enjoying reliving the past couple of days.  Unexpectedly, the clear thought came very strong to me....These are true messengers of God...  I was startled.  I realized that I really do believe that fact very strongly.  These are not just good talks by good men.  These are Apostles.  Apostles as in the time of Christ and I actually have a testimony of that fact.  I'm looking forward to the Temple this week and to ponder that beautiful thought that interrupted my half-awake pondering... They are the true messengers of God.

To me there was such beauty and hope in this Conference and direction and counsel and warnings.  The men to me seemed rather serious.  As if preparing us for the days ahead.  Yet there was always that counsel to adhere/obey/stay close to the Gospel and it's teachings/counsel and you will be okay.

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I feel concern for the women of the Church and I guess for everyone.  I feel  women wanting the Priesthood and desiring to be Bishops and leaders is going to cause so many problems.  It saddens me.  Didn't these women ever study the way of the Church being governed and the organization of it?  Don't they know that people requesting/petitioning/suggesting/counseling etc. etc.  don't amount to anything?  Revelation for the body of the Church comes from the head of the Church.  From the top down.  Not from the bottom up.  Those who think they, by their endless whining, influenced Church authorities for all worthy males to receive the Priesthood,  had no influence at all.  The Church is run by revelation.  Revelation to Priesthood MEN that are called by authority.  That is a part of our Articles of Faith.  a very basic doctrine.

I have no intention of devoting blog after blog to these causes of turmoil/strife/division and who knows what else but I just have to get some of this off my mind.  True this is taken out of context, of an article in favor of Women being Ordained but I just feel saddened because I see trouble coming down the road at them, and the rest of us also, as we will need to declare ourselves as believers/followers of the Doctrine as it is OR take a stand as believers for Change of Doctrine.

 (I 100% disagree with this statement.)

 McBaine, founder of The Mormon Women Project, which showcases strong LDS women, wrote that she can imagine a future in which "the general Relief Society president is administratively and ministerially responsible for half of the world’s population in a joint venture of administering the church with the prophet."

(I also 100% disagree with this statement)

Alexandra Sandvik, 24, a law student at church-owned Brigham Young University, said she believes it’s a matter of time before women are given the priesthood.  "We expanded the priesthood to African-Americans and now every male can have it," said Sandvik, whose husband, Jason, joined her. "Even if it doesn’t [extend to women], I’ll die a faithful Latter-day Saint."

Remember, Sister Alexandra in your equality for all work, as a "faithful Latter-day Saint" you will want a Temple recommend.  Remember, you will want to attend the Temple.  Remember, your enjoyment in partaking of the Sacrament.  Remember, those questions in the recommend interview, about belonging or supporting groups/organizations, that oppose the Church or it's leaders?  Think it through as you could end up holding a lump of coal and packing anti-Church leaflets in your used-to be Temple bag.

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All of us will have to take a stand, not be lukewarm,  not speak out of  both sides of our mouths.  Maybe not take a stand verbally but in our heart, our soul, we have to know what we really stand for.  How we really feel about Women receiving the Priesthood, and the opposition the Church has to same sex marriage.  BUT....should the time come for us to speak our truth when asked in casual, or not so casual, conversation...are we prepared?  do we know how we really feel?  Remember...silence is condoning.  Aren't we suppose to stand as witnesses of truth etc. etc.  I'm just saying ....  look to your own heart and figure out what is truth to you.

This is a lot of soap-boxing but I just had to share.  I have a bit more to share tomorrow and then my allotted time for discussion of something opposing the basic tenets of the Church will be finished (except for occasionally mentioning it).

(remember this was written in October 2013 and now we know I lie through my teeth!!  Oh, sure I'll never mention this subject again!!  oh, just occasionally??? uh-huh...you bet...of course!!  Serving notice that I most likely will spout off every once in awhile.  Maybe eventually I'll slow to a simmer but I'm just going to let what happens happens as far as what is on my mind and I blog about it!!  thanks for your understanding!) 

Still on my mind....

Last night I heard from Amy, one of my Laurels from long ago, and I just wanted to share a couple of things.  She'd had a great lesson and discussion with her YW about Women and the Priesthood.  I love hearing from readers!

The letter from the Bishop here to Kate Kelly has some excellent insight. 

This whole thing, in my book, boils down to testimony.  Do we believe our Church is THE Church?  Do we believe the heavens are open to communication from God to living Prophets?  The scriptures tell us that God will do nothing save he reveals it to his Prophets.  Do we really believe that?  Do we really believe that revelation, in regards to how the Church is "run", exists?  For me, there is one answer for all of these...YES.

This brings me back to the simplicity of the fact that Church wide change in anything comes from the top downward and not from the ground up.  We will never receive inspiration/revelation for the Church at large no matter how much we want something changed.   We can't even receive personal revelation for simple callings in our Ward except for our own calling!  No one else's!!

This is not a political organization with campaigns/walk-in/write-ins/petitions etc.  This is our religion of choice and we understand how that works.

Yesterday I got my Temple Recommend renewed and I thought about how I value that little piece of paper and the doors it literally opens for me.  Not only to enter the Temple doors but to receive peace of heart and personal revelation to help me withstand the rigors of life.  I'm thankful to not be embroiled against the Church.

It's quite amazing to think that the Church is world wide.  The difficulty of keeping the Church pure with the scriptural adage of one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism is overwhelming to contemplate.  To keep things laser beamed on the Gospel and making sure that all mankind- no matter their country of origin, their language, their cultural, their traditions, their former religious beliefs- understand the way of the Gospel is just a miracle in itself.

The Church has adapted over the years in many ways to fit the growing needs of a growing Church.  Doing away with details that aren't applicable for everyone.  Simple things to improve, expand in preparation for the last days that we live in.

To bring attention to the Church in such a negative way in wanting to actually insist a Doctrinal change be made, differs on all levels of being appropriate.

Ordain Women had a thousand or so women write the Authorities supporting their cause, pleading for conversation/dialogue.  The entire thing reminded me of that old catch phrase "what part of no don't you understand???"  They asked for women to be ordained.  They were told no. They refused to accept it and said they will persist.  Are they really thinking they will wear down the Prophets?

The Church is always on the lookout for changes, as far as I'm concerned, and in the past years have done lots to involve women more.  I believe we will see more and more changes.  What is rather irksome to me is the Ordain Women group will take credit for those changes.  As they already have.  Like the prayer at General Conference by a woman, which had been in place for months, and yet they were asking/requesting/questioning so they put a feather in their bonnet.  I'm sure there will be more things like that.  I know that any change that happens regarding women will happen because that is what the Lord wants to happen in His Church not because of women counseling the Prophets. 

Such a small group of agitators but with today's technology this will be all over the place.  We need to be comfortable with our beliefs, not be wishy-washy, stand for truth- in support of divine revelation for the Church at large.

I have a blog that I wrote but never posted about this subject of women wanting change.  I seem to feel the need to purge and share.  tomorrow.  Yes.  I'll share it tomorrow!  if you can stand one more post!!!  You are forewarned!  And then I think that will be enough except for follow-up. 

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this is after the fact but this sort of shannigan, to bring about change, resonates so wrong in my soul that it repulses me....here 

The Battle heats up....

Just read this about Kate Kelly's excommunication.... here

This is when the unraveling begins... choosing sides...  faultfinding... accusations....our very own, yet personally unknown, LDS sisters and their families dealing with heartbreak.

She says she will not stop her Ordain Women goal, even though in the above article, she is asked by the Church to do so.

I'm sure the LDS homosexuals desiring Temple marriage etc.,  will rally to her support and increase the pressure that will not amount to a twit as far as change in doctrinal issues.

How very sad.

Finding our voice

Last week I saw a picture of a beautiful field of blue bonnets and Texas wild flowers and was reminded me of the power of one woman.  the power of a singular act.  the power of vision of what is possible when a woman takes action. Here is the picture....

The woman I speak of is Lady Bird Johnson and here is a picture (not so good one!) of her sitting amongst some of the wild flowers that she so loved.

 

Johnson was a lifelong advocate for beautifying the nation's cities and highways ("Where flowers bloom, so does hope") and the Highway Beautification Act was informally known as Lady Bird's Bill. She was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold 
Medal, the highest US civilian honors.





She was a successful businesswoman in the days when there weren't very many in the field of business.  Her husband Lyndon Baines Johnson became President when President Kennedy was assassinated.  I'm older now but I now look back on my life and see that I've been fascinated with people and their stories for what seems to be my entire life.   I was intrigued by her.  Mrs. Kennedy had refurbished the interior of our Nations house-- The White House.  Mrs. Johnson wanted to take on the Nations exterior-- the land!  She loved our country and wanted roadways and highways to be beautiful.  She wanted them tidy.  She wanted an abundance of native flowers that would flourish in their wildness on any barren roadside.

Eventually she wrote a big thick book (at least in memory it seems so) about The White House Years.  That might have actually been the name of the book.  So I read the book and wrote her a letter telling her how much I'd enjoyed the book and asking some questions.  She wrote me a letter back (somewhere in all my paper stacks I still have it)  spoke very kindly to me and answered my questions.  I realized that she understood the power of persuasion & persistence.  She accomplished her goal with that great desire and vision of what could be done and needed to be done.   

I've really given a lot of thought to the power we have as females and our ability to pretty much accomplish anything we set our minds to.  When Maya Angelou, the black poetess, author, lecturer and all sorts of accomplishments recently passed away, I watched the entire funeral on TV.  It was interesting to see Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey speak.  Speak about the power of women and what women can do when united.  The great power synergistically speaking.  Then there was a special celebration honoring black women of personal accomplishments, being referred to as ground breakers and making the way, through their individual accomplishments and yet banding together as a group, to allow others to build on what they had done.  To stand on their shoulders by barriers broken down and doors now open.

There was also a special over the D-Day anniversary and a man was telling of the greatest tragedy, with 
 so many men wounded and dying and he said the word that was clearly heard from everywhere, the last words, their last thoughts...the person they cried out for was--   Mother.  Mom.  Ma. 

 I do not doubt we are powerful and impactful as females.  that war scene, just the thought of that sound rendering the air made me teary.

A couple of days ago a glimpse of this Seattle newspaper made me cry also.

actually running!!

a baby girl!!

This made me teary also.... here

Yesterday I talked to my Laurels about women and the Priesthood.  My concern for them is them, perhaps, not really knowing how they feel about the Priesthood being for males only...realizing it will not be extended to them... and being prepared to explain themselves.  The above article subject is just the beginning of what is going to be so polarizing to the Church and to we females.

I saw this happen years and years ago and it got divisive but on a more limited way because there was not today's technology.

Change in the Church will never be brought about by grassroots effort...petitions...etc. etc.  Change in the Church never comes from the ground upward.  Change in the Church comes from Heaven downward.  We believe in Prophets.  They will keep us informed as to the happenings with their clear warnings and counsel.

Understanding our own feelings on this subject is one way we stand as a witness of God at all times and in all places and in all things.  

Note to self: Be prepared to explain your feelings with gentleness and kindness.    

(I still want people, those so dissatisfied with the Church that they want to change it, to go form their own Church and PLEASE leave the Church I support and believe in, just as it is.)

 I just have to post this quote again!!!!!

Finally, my dear sisters, may I suggest to you something that has not been said before or at least in quite this way. Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. 

This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world.

Among the real heroines in the world who will come into the Church are women who are more concerned with being righteous than with being selfish. These real heroines have true humility, which places a higher value on integrity than on visibility. Remember, it is as wrong to do things just to be seen of women as it is to do things to be seen of men. 

Great women and men are always more anxious to serve than to have dominion.

Thus it will be that female exemplars of the Church will be a significant force in both the numerical and the spiritual growth of the Church in the last days. 
                                                                            by President Spencer W. Kimball (1979)

No Girls Allowed!!!

Remember not to long ago the campaign for LDS women to wear slacks to Church?.....

Then there was an LDS blog and the woman felt that the Holy Ghost is actually Mary and others agreed. She felt the Godhead is comprised of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and Mary, the Mother of Christ.  I was surprised that several expressed their agreement....

Oh, and the "pressure" put on the brethren to allow a woman to pray at General Conference (seriously...does anyone believe that had a smidgen of impact on a woman praying?  really???!!!  NO!  not a twit!)....  

The underlying desire, the ultimate goal in all of these attention getters, is for LDS women to be ordained to the Priesthood.  The feminists are just moving along with their plan.  (how long before they lose their membership?).  

In line for October is an invitation for all of us to attend the Priesthood session.  All of us, LDS females and males, that want the slight taken care of-- Us being overlooked and not included in Priesthood ordination.  You have got to be kidding me but no!...look at this banner!



"OrdainWomen aspires to create a space for Mormon women to articulate issues of gender inequality they may be hesitant to raise alone. As a group we intend to put ourselves in the public eye and call attention to the need for the ordination of Mormon women to the priesthood."  check out their October Conference plan here

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Ladies.  You are free.  Form your own religion and give yourselves the Priesthood or have one of your staunch male priesthood supporters ordain you!  Form your own Church.  Leave mine alone.  

Revelation comes from the tip top down to the bottom.  Not you on your tip toes, reaching up for all you are worth,  determined to change all that is dear, true, ancient and God's way, will change the Prophet's mind.  I don't care what you do but I just want you to leave me alone and that goes for my Church also.  Thanks.

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 So... despite the promised arrival of the Restoration of the Gospel...they are seeking to rearrange/reorganize/restructure, that very long awaited Restoration??!!  Ironic!

I've looked at several of these sites and the one that showed a collage of the supporters just literally brought tears to my eyes as they were all so young.  so beautiful.  so desirous for change and equality.  A religious playing field of inequality, in their minds, that can only be leveled by rendering all mankind equal in the LDS Church by females having the Priesthood.  They would like to be leaders.  Bishops.  So they are working on the Church leaders to wake up and change things around.  Obviously beyond trying to persuade/convince General Authorities, they will have some sort of a campaign for the public and also a subtle inroad to reach women within the Church.  BUT....how will they go about convincing God on the need to change the Biblical descriptive requirements of a Bishop?

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bits taken out of context and bold print added.... from 1 Tim 3:1-7  (read all of it here )

 1- If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

 2-A bishop then must be... the husband of one wife...

 4-One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

7-Moreover he must have a good report of them which are; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

also in Titus 1:7,9   here

7 For a bishop must be blameless 

 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

I will watch with interest how the feminists, desiring to be Priesthood ordained, will handle the above Bible truths, in their campaign to circumvent what God has written in stone... only men ordained with Priesthood.
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a couple of my past blogs related to the determined LDS feminist desires. 
http://acandlestick.blogspot.com/2012/12/knicker-knots.html
 http://acandlestick.blogspot.com/2013/04/get-ready-decide-what-works-for-youenjoy.html

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Sherry Dew speaks What do LDS Women Get? 

Still bothering me!!!!

My friend, Carol, just got back from Utah- she said it was on the TV every time she turned around!!!

Mormon group pushing for women in the priesthood - CacheValleyDaily.com : News

General Women Leaders speak about  about Priesthood Power

Sherry Dew speaks What do LDS Women Get?  

Hot off the press!!!! New role for Sister Missionaries