Steadying the Ark

 Is criticism steadying the ark? 

With the latest scandal in church funds, even more are willing to add up the infractions and consider what is happening in the church. But, fear of steadying the ark grabs their heart and they’re tempted to retreat in analyzing for themselves what is going on.

 “Safe and effective,” has clearly been shown to be ignorance or worse, a lie. Now this use of tithing investment funds. This comment on steadying the ark may help you feel more comfortable in applying D&C 8:2-3. He will tell you in your mind and heart so it’s ok to use those instruments in detecting truth and knowledge and learning by the power of the Holy Ghost the truth of all things. 

“The problem with steadying the ark was related to interfering with a function assigned to someone else. No one other than properly called priesthood authorities have the right to: organize a stake, call a stake presidency, organize a ward, call a bishop and his counselors, organize an elder’s quorum and its presidency, call a conference, preside at a conference, conduct at conferences, authorize baptisms, interview for worthiness for baptism, interview for worthiness for callings, interview for priesthood advancement in church assignments, organize auxilary organizations, collect tithing money, build and dedicate chapels, temples, etc. If anyone other than a properly designated authority were to undertake any of these, they would be steadying the ark and without appropriate authority to do so.

On the other hand, every one of us is obligated to preach, teach, exhort, expound and cry repentance as soon as we have been given the Aaronic office of teacher. Every adult who has been warned, is required to warn their neighbor. We are required to teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.

Further, with respect to this particular effort, Elder Ballard has imposed the obligation to use the Internet to preach the Gospel.

This is NOT steadying the ark.

Finally, you must understand that there are many Saints who are perfectly content with their version of the Gospel and who have no interest in confronting questions or grappling to understand something more. I do not want to trouble them. But there are many more who are inactive and disaffected, or who continue to attend but who are alienated by the teaching which appears in church, or who would leave the church altogether if they wouldn’t disrupt their families. I believe they are struggling becuase they haven’t yet read the Book of Mormon and been informed that this process, this struggle, their frustrations are not a defect in themselves. They can be active, faithful members of the church while searching more deeply into the faith. When eyes begin to open, they needn’t abandon the church because they see issues. It will be alright. There is still hope. I write to help them, to show how to put context to problems. To see that despite all we have and will pass through, the Gospel is a personal journey, and they can remain in that personal journey despite earth and hell.

I should add, also, that none of you either get the off-blog emails or participate in the personal conversations which I have. There are some people whose names you would recognize who are quite supportive of my effort. I have it on good authority that presiding authorities are themselves divided over the correlation process and how it is affecting the church. Some have the identical view I express on this blog. I am not as radical in my view as some of you may think. Or, if radical, there are some in authority who share my view. I am trying to help them, as well” https://denversnuffer.com/2010/07/2-nephi-28-3/.