Today Radio Free Mormon share with us the “Pharisee Phenomenon” as found in the LDS Church. Running through 12 examples where all the fun lies. RFM shows us what it means to be pharisaical in the LDS Church. Its not everyday you get to explore LDS Leaders practicing or advocating strict observance of external forms and ceremonies of religion or conduct without regard to the spirit.
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So Oaks says that the sacrament should be done exactly right. And with the right hand. But why doesn’t the congregation kneel when the sacrament is blessed?
>D&C 20:76 And the elder or priest shall administer it; and after this manner shall he administer it—he shall *kneel with the church* and call upon the Father in solemn prayer, saying:
One of the problems of being a pharisee is that pharisees substitute the traditions of men for the commandments of God.
Matthew 15:2 “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.” 3Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
That is also in the BoM.
Moroni 4:2 And they did kneel down with the church, and pray to the Father in the name of Christ, saying:
Everyone is supposed to kneel during the sacrament prayers.
How do you kneel with the church unless the church is kneeling also, if it was just them kneeling it would say before the church not with the church.
Also if they are so worried about doing it right, why are they not using WINE.
Moroni 5:2 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this WINE to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
Another great podacst!
I did read that BYU recently added caffeinated beverages on campus. If you google it, some news articles about it will come up.
When I first came across your podcasts I was really impressed with your spot-on analysis of church issues. If I was still TBM, I would say that the Supernatural, disembodied Holy Ghost was telling me what you say is true!
But then I listened to one of your podcasts where you mentioned your profession and I realized why I lliked your reasoning and arguments so much. It was because I have a very similar profess background and looked at stuff the same way. (I can only hope I can do such a devastating cross-exam in my work as you do of GA talks and other B.S.! But I guess you have alot to work with!)
Just goes to show that feelings tend to just confirm what you’re familiar with and your established opinions!
Please excuse my typos. It was written on my iphone while wanting for my table at a restaurant.
While I enjoy your episodes with Bill Reel, I enjoy your solo episodes far more.
RFM, I just wish you could get this in front of all TBMs. You never cease to amaze me. I thought of myself as a scholar of all things Mormon but I am not even in the same universe as you are. We need you to be on Mormon Stories to get wider attention. I was in 5 Bishoprics and meet all of the other TBM criteria. Only reason I have not resigned is my mom and wife.
So I’ve listened to a few of your podcasts and I really appreciated what you said about how being stopped from gathering firewood bothered you because you were a priesthood leader. You said it was a small thing but I disagree. I think that kind of attitude promotes sexism in the church.
Have you thought of sharing the scripts of the shows? Maybe even as a premium thing? I’d pay for them!
I think overall this is an important topic to discuss for sure. The only question I had was what if that elder really did just want to be closer to God and wasn’t getting up at 5 am out of pride? Elder Oaks on the other hand (pun intended), is being hypocritical. There are rumors that, if true, make me very concerned about leadership more than the pride. Ultimately, the Pharisees were willing to murder innocence. Researchers can look into Glenn Pace report. Btw, he was demoted quickly from presiding bishopric.
Hi RFM, have really been enjoying your recent, accelerated (during Corona) programming. Thank you.
As a highly interested, Never-Mormon, I’m curious about the pronunciation of “Amen”. I just ran across this video, of Gordon B. Hinkley demonstrating the “Honsana Shout”, and I noticed him pronouncing “Amen” not once, but three times, with a short, rather than a long,”a”. Your thoughts, please.
https://youtu.be/fosUcErELeI
That is a very specific question you ask, Laura.
In brief, LDS say amen with a long “a” sound in all of their public and private prayers.
But there is another usage of “amen” that comes from Joseph Smith’s teaching that the name of God in the Adamic language is “Ahmen.”
It is possible the usage of a short “a” in amen is done in recognition of the “correct” pronunciation of God’s name in Adamic.
Though why this pronunciation has never caught on in common prayer I could not say.
Thanks for listening!
RFM