u/KURPULIS

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Prophets of the Past – Forgive Past Prophets | Elder Corbitt

>Thus, the issue is not whether someone in the past had a “flawless performance.” Let’s just take the latter-day and ancient prophets and apostles at their word and concede (to those who pick through history looking to publish such things) that, like us, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” in Paul’s words.

>No, the far greater issue is whether we will embrace the greater things in faith. The greater things include charity without which we are nothing anyway. And that forward-facing faith is unto repentance.

>Again, we should be careful to avoid assuming past prophets’ actions were wrong, unwise or the fruit of human weakness simply because they look wrong from our modern perspective.

>Prophets in the scriptures have, in fact, been commanded to do things that are clearly contrary to today’s norms, customs and even laws.

>As we seek and focus on the greater things in forward-looking faith unto repentance, we will less likely misinterpret as wrong the actions of past prophets.

Near the end of her life, Jane Manning James and a black pioneer, identified by name Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, and Joseph F. Smith, not as men who upheld the Church’s race restrictions for priesthood and temple blessings (by which she was denied these blessings personally); rather, she identified them as ‘good, great, and holy men’ whom others should listen to and obey.”

Insecurity can make ordinary social cues feel like condemnation, especially among people striving toward shared ideals.

>If everyone in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is concerned about being judged, who is doing all the judging?

>The next time we feel judged, perhaps we can start by wondering whether the source of that judgment is internal. What insecurity do we have—what in our own lives do we feel defensive about—that we are putting into the minds of others without their permission?

>One of the greatest freedoms Jesus offers is a secure identity. We no longer have to appoint everyone around us as judges that we have to please. Human approval matters, especially within relationships, but it does not create or destroy our divine identity.

Church membership growth across U.S. states over 25 years – Church News

We've had a few submitted (now removed) posts in regard to Jeff Strong and his book Torn. There are a lot of problems we have with it and many reasons we aren't encouraging his perspective here in the sub.

The Interpreter Foundation is one of the few church recommended sources for study beyond church materials. Kyler Rasmussen reviews it here and there is a short video of it here.

But basically, it boils down to a problem we see when 'the church isn't being ran the way I would like it to be' and in this case, Jeff's heart starts in the right place and immediately turns to (ab)using data in way to get across his point. It looks as though he's trying to run in front of the train, and if you're not familiar with one of my favorite GC analogies, I'll leave it here. :)

>It is as if we are passengers on the train of the Church, which has been moving forward gradually and methodically. Sometimes we have looked out the window and thought, “That looks kind of fun out there. This train is so restrictive.” So we have jumped off and gone and played in the woods for a while. Sooner or later we find it isn’t as much fun as Lucifer makes it appear or we get critically injured, so we work our way back to the tracks and see the train ahead. With a determined sprint we catch up to it, breathlessly wipe the perspiration from our forehead, and thank the Lord for repentance.

>While on the train we can see the world and some of our own members outside laughing and having a great time. They taunt us and coax us to get off. Some throw logs and rocks on the tracks to try and derail it. Other members run alongside the tracks, and while they may never go play in the woods, they just can’t seem to get on the train. Others try to run ahead and too often take the wrong turn.

>I would propose that the luxury of getting on and off the train as we please is fading. The speed of the train is increasing. The woods are getting much too dangerous, and the fog and darkness are moving in.

>Although our detractors might as well “stretch forth [their] puny arm[s] to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream” (D&C 121:33) as try to derail this train, they are occasionally successful in coaxing individuals off. With all the prophecies we have seen fulfilled, what great event are we awaiting prior to saying, “Count me in”? What more do we need to see or experience before we get on the train and stay on it until we reach our destination? It is time for a spiritual revival. It is time to dig down deep within ourselves and rekindle our own light.

As much as a particular group of members (I wouldn't dare make this post in certain other subs) really don't like this phrasing, at the recent New Mission Leaders Seminar President Oaks repeated it often.

There was also another particular comment that stood out to me:

>"The fashionable opinion of this age is that all churches are true" (hence my own comment above). "If that is so, then all religious messages that identify differences in religious doctrines like ours are unimportant. That conclusion can cause us, and others, a serious loss of religious freedom."

I would've loved to be there at the Seminar, as the prophets speak longer, on different topics, and more directly than at General Conference. I'm grateful that at least the Church Newsroom is covering it in portion.

President Oaks shows 3 needs of ‘the only true and living church’ – Church News

Summaries, photos from the 2026 Seminar for New Mission Leaders – Church News

These types of posts were helpful when I was deciding to order mine and so I figure I'll potentially help out others.

I ordered from Suqian Dafen Technology Co, Ltd on Alibaba and it took about 60 days total from payment and 45 days for just the shipping portion.

I paid $1,900 for each HyperBee and $4,600 for the Ultra Bee. This price included everything-everything: shipping, taxes, customs, etc. (I'm making a point of this because I was told by some many users in here that because I didn't go with Gonped and that I should've paid more....)

Good luck to anyone else looking to order!