This comment (not mine BTW - obviously from someone far smarter than I am!) I think, sums things up nicely:
"I think the church is missing the point in these essays.
It's like a bank robber who is videotaped robbing a bank and to prevent getting caught he steal the tapes and hides them. Then rumors spread from witnesses that this guy robbed a bank. He continues to avoid responding to those accusations and people start complaining that he isn't honest about his past.
So in order to stop the rumors the robber reveals the tapes and says "look I am completely honest - I have produced these videos"
He missed the point. The point was that he had robbed the bank - not that he had concealed the evidence.
The problem was not that the church was covering up the past - the problem was that its past needed to be covered up in the first place."
Christ said stay in the boat of His Church with a foundation, or bulwark, consisting of Him as the chief corner Stone of a foundation⁄bulwark of Apostles and prophets for their own protection and blessing during the journey across the stormy seas if life.
Those who have jumped overboard from the original Church have suffered the natural consequence of being lost in the sea of confusion, doubt, and false doctrine. Seems like a beautiful analogy that describes the Apostasy that the Reformers, Protestants, and Latter-day Saints of the restored Church of Jesus Christ claim occurred.
This jumping overboard was evident in Christ's day and throughout the history of His Church including in our present day.
Don't want to contend, or offend, but felt I needed to support Elder Ballard's recommendation to stay in the Boat of the Church of Jesus Christ and walking on water will come in due time at the invitation of Christ, as TRUE faith in Him is developed!!! Let's build not tear down; left Faith in Christ be manifest in a spirit of LOVE and not of contention or mocking. Let the words of honest truth seekers be honestly heard before making judgments that might be later viewed as "light minded" or contentious.
You sure like to talk in strange riddles! I've never heard this before "Christ said stay in the boat of His Church with a foundation, or bulwark, consisting of Him as the chief corner Stone of a foundation⁄bulwark of Apostles and prophets for their own protection and blessing during the journey accross the stormy seas if life."
It would appear that you have confused a boat with a building. A foundation and a bulwark are not even close to the same thing!
Where in the bible does it say anything about "being lost in the sea of confusion, doubt, and false doctrine."
"This jumping overboard was evident in Christ's day and throughout the history of His Church including in our present day." Citation needed.
Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
No where did Jesus say "stay on the boat" in fact he encouraged everyone with enough faith to leave the boat!
Matthew 14:28-31
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
