In a recent post by Kate Kelly, (excommunicated by the LDS Church for blatant apostasy) she feebly attempts to defend John Dehlin (who
stands to also be excommunicated) by trying to offend faithful Mormons for
keeping temple covenants, suggesting that the Church is losing control of its
membership.
According to
Kelly, “The Mormon faith has become a place that incentivizes the survival of
the least fit. Since strict obedience is demanded and harshly enforced, only
the least talented, least articulate, least nuanced thinkers, least likely to
take a stand against abuse, and the least courageous people thrive in the
Church today.”
Interpreted what
she actually means to say is that, because the Mormon faith is a place where the
faithful gather to make and keep sacred covenants with God, members considered
in good standing (by choice) don’t use their time and talents to undermine and
advocate contrary to the teachings and counsel of living prophets.
Rather, faithful
Mormons boldly live their religion in the face of relentless accusations suggesting
that to uphold the commandments of God is un-Christian, weak, and judgmental
and will land them on the wrong side of history!
I’m not sure
what Kelly hopes to gain by trying to insult the general membership of the
Church, but I can assure you that most members will see it as just sad. And
seeing as how similar ploys didn’t work for her, I seriously doubt that more public
shaming of the Church (or us) will change anything about another’s Church discipline.
Kelly may have a
law degree, which she feels makes her smarter and more qualified than many of
us to… what? Oh yeah, to advocate publicly contrary to leaders of the Church –
or God. But as for me, I much prefer to exercise willing obedience and use my
God-given talents to stand for what I believe and with those whom the Lord has
called to lead His Church.
And in the
process, if I’m considered among “the least talented, least articulate, least
nuanced thinkers... " I’ll continue to consider it a ‘badge of honor’ and
count myself among the likes of many of you and those who have gone before us
valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ.
tDMg
Kathryn Skaggs
You might also enjoy reading these other responses:
Is Mormonism declining in the 21st Century among educated Americans? by Michael Terence Worley
LDS Women are Not Perfect But We Trust Our God by Ganel-Lyn Condie
You might also enjoy reading these other responses:
Is Mormonism declining in the 21st Century among educated Americans? by Michael Terence Worley
LDS Women are Not Perfect But We Trust Our God by Ganel-Lyn Condie
Wow, by that logic I guess we could call the brilliant CEO of Wizard language training schools, Brother Carlos Wizard Martins, who is an active faithful Latter-day Saint and one of the world's billionaires, a "dummy." Sad when we have to start calling folks derogatory and insulting names to try and make a point. Count me in as one of the willing and obedient (though they may call me "blinded, bigoted, what they will), who chose to use my God-given talents and abilities to further the Lord's work on the earth, and stand with those whom the Lord has chosen to administer His affairs on the earth. I feel there is much to do before the Lord comes again, and I must be on with it. I can't be distracted with this nonsense.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of my school days. When a child couldn't get their way they stooped to name calling and bullying. Sounds pretty inarticulate and untalented to me. Thank you for your comments Kathryn.
DeleteKK just perfectly fulfilled the people in that great and spacious building described in Lehi's dream. By her standards I guess I must relinquish my degrees in biochemistry and neurobiology in order to be a faithful member of the LSD Church!
DeleteAppalling. "Only the least talented, least articulate, least nuanced thinkers, least likely to take a stand against abuse, and the least courageous people thrive in the Church today." I cannot believe that Kate Kelly actually wrote that. If that is what she allows online, I can only imagine how bad things are in her and JD's secret groups.
ReplyDeleteI think the entire membership of active, faithful Latter-day Saints should be appalled. I'd be very surprised if, after reading the Guardian article, that they weren't. I think the real one who has sunk so low is KK. So low that she has disparaged and mocked the members of the Church, especially those in the poorest and humblest of nations. To me, that shows a disturbing lack of empathy.
I have never met so many inspired, motivated, confident, creative people since I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Throughout my Stake there are many top businessmen, doctors, lawyers, some of the most influential people ever. I just can't stop shaking my head at her post. Best of luck to her, as she continues to try to justify her actions.
ReplyDeleteIt's so sad that KK is so lost she must stoop the low , I have met some of the must sweet people in the church that have helped me when know one else would. I'll pray for her. God Bless !!
ReplyDeleteWithin a few hundred miles of me, there are tens of thousands of educated, intelligent, free people, well able to examine and dissect the Gospel and the Church.
ReplyDeleteThey can and they have examined them, and continue to live according to the "restrictions," and celebrate the blessings of doing so, teaching their families to follow suit.
They include university presidents, supreme court justices, scientists of international standing, highly visible men and women with valued reputations.
They are not perfect, and don't claim to be.
There are also more tens of thousands without the academic and worldly credentials, who simply live it because they have learned it, tested it, and been tested.
There are as many as the foregoing, who are members with no particular conviction, who fade in and out, or are members in name only, who are free to live it or not -- though there are some who judge and condemn and set bad examples.
The Kingdom rolls forth, and will always, without the naysayers -- who, by the way, avoid questions and scrutiny of their lives and examples and the accomplishments of their leaders.
I believe it was Elder Neal A. Maxwell who something like They leave the church, but cannot leave the church alone. Why does she feel she has to say anything? Because she has to justify her apostate position by denigrating the rest of us. So sad. Reminds me of what was said of Korihor (Alma 30:60) "And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell." She'd better wake up and repent before it is too late. Again, so sad!
ReplyDeleteShe is one of many who leave their religion then come out in open rebellion against what they once believed. What's the point? I hope she can find something that makes her happy and stop worrying about those who still believe.
ReplyDeleteLoved this article :) I certainly don't care what she, or others, have to say about me being a faithful member of Christ's true church! I will have to stand before God one day, and his judgements are all I care about. I'm so grateful to have Christ's gospel in my life and have it restored to the earth once again. I am certainly nothing close to perfect; I mess up a lot, just like very other human. So I am so glad to have the atonement and am able to exercise repentance so that I can try again when mess up. I'm also grateful to have a Prophet, as a mouthpiece for our Heavenly Father, to guide us in this crazy world :) and it's so great to have the scriptures to help teach us as well! All I can say is I feel bad for her, because Christ's gospel brings so much peace and joy to our lives if we use it! I don't even want to think of what it would be like to live without the gospel.
ReplyDeleteI think Kate is trying to lengthen out her fifteen minutes of fame. She is wrong about this. I mean, it only makes sense that the smartest are the ones who stay in the boat.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete