I know some people who are tough nuts to crack - and you have to keep on pushing basic principle until something finally sinks in..... Teach them good principle - and let them govern themselves with their God-given agency fully intact...... Probably the toughest thing to do as a parent, a spouse, a leader, etc. I would have to say, that it is far harder for the one who is a position of admonishment and correction to stay the tongue, than it is for the wayward one to kick against the pricks and fight against good principle:
HYPOCRISY BY THOSE WHO WANT TO CHANGE GOD’S COMMANDMENTS TO FIT THEIR OWN SELFISH WANTS
The teachings of the Lord are clear in regard to the way we must deal with sinners. Christ treated them with compassion -- as long as they confessed that their sin was a sin. Only when they attempted to pretend that their sin was righteousness did he harshly name them for what they were: fools, hypocrites, sinners. Hypocrites because they were unwilling to change their behavior and instead attempted to change the law to fit it; fools because they thought that deceiving an easily deceivable society would achieve the impossible goal of also deceiving God. These are they who are “kicking against the pricks” and “fighting against the Saints of God”. Joseph Smith taught that it is never enough to physically leave the body of the Church and then leave the Saints alone. You can leave the Church, but the Church never leaves you -- because immutable truth is just that, immutable. It will gnaw at you at every turn and every choice in life until you either bow the knee and confess Christ as your Savior or raise your fist to heaven and curse God and wish to die because of your defiance at the failing to give heed to saving laws and ordinances which can bring peace and lasting joy.
The Church has plenty of room for individuals who are struggling to overcome their temptation and bad behavior. But for the protection of the Saints and the good of the persons themselves, the Church has no room for those who, instead of repenting of gross sin, wish it to become an acceptable behavior in the society of the Saints. They are wolves in sheep's clothing, preaching meekness while attempting to devour the flock, or their families, etc.
No act of violence is ever appropriate to protect Christianity from those who would rob it of its meaning. None of us are without sin -- the casting of stones is not our duty or our privilege. All that must ever be done to answer them is to declare the truth, and to deny them the right to call themselves Latter-day Saints while proclaiming their false doctrine. Even as Christ freed from her accusers the woman taken in adultery, he told her, Go and sin no more.
Quote attributed to Orson Scott Card with modification by Iraq.
I HAVE TO DEAL WITH MANY LOVED ONES WHO ARE APOSTATE IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER (ALL OF US ARE TO ONE POINT, OR ANOTHER - AS WE ARE ALL KILLING OURSELVES SOFTLY WITH WHAT WE TAKE INTO OUR BODIES - JUST THAT SOME ARE EATING WHITE BREAD, WHILE OTHERS ARE DRINKING THE NO BWAYNO, DRANO) AND IT IS WEARYING. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW GOD MUST FEEL WITH SO MANY STRAYING AT THIS TIME.....
I DEDICATE THIS POST TO AN OLD FRIEND FROM MY GROWING UP DAYS: TALMAGE B. (KNOWN AS TAL), WHO IS THE SON OF RANDY B. RANDY JOINED THE CHURCH AFTER MEETING A BEAUTIFUL LDS WOMAN. TAL GREW UP WITH ME, WENT TO ARGENTINA ON A MISSION AND WAS MARRIED TO A WOMAN WHO BORE HIM SEVEN CHILDREN UNDER THE COVENANT. HE HAD THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD WITH HIM UNTIL HE FELL FROM GRACE AND IS NOW BUSILY KICKING AGAINST THE PRICKS AS ONE OF THE LEADING ANTI'S IN THE CHURCH. I CONTRAST THAT PICTURE I NOW HAVE OF HIM, WITH THE LAST TIME I HAD SEEN HIM IN PERSON (HE CAME UP TO ME ON A STREET IN PROVO (ABOUT 1993), RADIANTLY SMILING AND ANNOUNCED HE WAS MARRYING THE MOST AMAZING GIRL IN THE WORLD). SO FULL OF LIFE AND EXCITEMENT AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. AND NOW, THIS.....
(RECENT PIC OF TAL FROM HIS PUBLIC FB PROFILE)
THE ONLY EXPLANATION THAT I CAN COME UP WITH (AND I CONFRONTED HIM ABOUT IT) IS LAW OF CHASTITY ISSUES AND/OR DEMONIC POSSESSION. HE DENIED IT - BUT YOU CANNOT EASILY HIDE THE OBVIOUS AS YOU SPEW THREATENINGS AND RAILINGS AGAINST THE LORD'S ANOINTED.
PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING YOU TUBE LINKS OF HIS MUSIC VIDEOS (BELOW) BEFORE AND AFTER A PERSONAL FALL.
BEFORE (NOTE COUNTENANCE IN "SHE'S SO HIGH" - WHICH WAS A NUMBER ONE RATED POP SONG):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ElORM9O-0U
AFTER (SHOWING HIS LESS INNOCENT (**pure??**) COUNTENANCE):
http://www.songkick.com/artists/553157-tal-bachman
I GOT AN ANGRY E-MAIL FROM TAL ONCE WONDERING WHY I WAS SINGLING HIM OUT TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE. I WAS SHORT AND TO THE POINT. HE WAS BRINGING FALSE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE CHURCH - AND I SIMPLY WANTED TO GIVE MY PERSONAL WITNESS THAT HIS FORM OF ACRIMONIOUS MORMON BASHING WAS DUE TO HIS PERSONAL FALL - NOT ANY REAL ISSUES HE HAD AGAINST THE CHURCH.
I ONLY PUT THIS STUFF OUT THERE AS A FASCINATING REMINDER OF HOW ANY ONE CAN FALL IF PROPER CARE AND FEEDING OF THE SPIRIT IS NOT ATTENDED TO REGULARLY.
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