Good Rebellion

Can those that rebel against the church be doing it a favor? Yes! Let me clarify that I speak of the body of the church, the men and women that make up its general membership and not the core doctrines and ordinances or even the organization as a whole. Many people find some way of expressing that the LDS Church's core doctrines are true but sometimes the people aren't. Meaning that we should accept what the church teaches and not necessarily the way the lay membership behaves and acts. However, the beliefs and actions of the lay membership are as much a part of the fabric of the church as the core doctrines. It is a cop out and excuse to think that ones actions as a member of the church do not directly reflect upon the good name of that church for better or for worse.

My mother had a friend who brought a visiting family member to our home. The family member saw inside the refrigerator when my mother opened it to get something out. As my mother was closing it, this lady ran over opened the door and looked inside. She exclaimed, "You are the first Mormon I've seen that did have beer in your fridge." As looking in people's refrigerators is not a common practice and she did live in Utah, she probably had met many that didn't have beer in their refrigerators. Though the ones close to her that she spent time with did. Even though it was a small group compared to the whole church, it significantly shaped her view of Mormons as a whole because she knew that we aren't supposed to drink.

The Lord found it important enough that the church share the same beliefs that he spent a great deal of time speaking to the people in 3 Nephi about their doctrine.

3 Nephi 18:34 And I give you these commandments because of the disputations which have been among you. And blessed are ye if ye have no disputations among you.

3 Nephi 11:35 - 36 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.

Christ wishes us to be one of heart, mind and soul. That we may embrace and share his doctrine. People sharing common beliefs is a major tenant of the gospel and is one of the many reasons for correlation. While in the bloggernacle and DAMU, correlation is often used as a dirty word, it is an attempt by weak, mortal men to unify the doctrine of the church. To seek to obey the commandment of God to have no disputations among us.

The other point that must be established is that we learn "line upon line and precept upon precept." Things that are clear to some, may not yet be clear to others. We learn piece by piece growing in faith and doctrine. This causes some discordance between members as some have different understandings than others. We must accept that no one person has all the answers, including the church leadership. Even the prophets and apostles have to inquire from the Lord from time to time his will concerning matters and points of doctrine. It will take an eternity for us to gain the knowledge and understanding we must have to become like God.

So where does rebellion fit in? I'm not talking about out and out apostasy, where someone rejects God and actively works against the church. I'm talking about those, especially in the younger generation, that stand up for what they believe. They state that some of the old, antiquated ideas that are often bandied about in the church are false or incorrect and we should seek a more correct way of living or acting. There are many leaders, especially on the local level, that rule their dominion and try to force obedience through silly rules or practices that are not part of the core doctrines of the church. Thank goodness for those that stand up and rebel against those practices. That is why we fought the War in Heaven, we stood up for our freedom to worship and learn.

I have noticed a definite shift in the thinking of the church and its membership in recent years. There are more of those that are not willing to just sit there and take it, but want to stand up for the truth and right. I see the transparency opening up in the leadership with the publishing of the new Church Handbook of Instructions. They listened to the cry for more openness and a better understanding of the workings of the church.

You may not think that one voice can change a decades old incorrect practice, but when that one voice joins with the other voices in courage and strength it can create a big change. Remember the Lord works through small and simple things. Your small and simple voice can help the Lord work His purposes. We must constantly be seeking for Zion and the truth. We have not made it yet and so changes must be made. Even the church as a whole must grow and develop as an organization as much as its individual members. Though some of our beliefs differ, we are a group of Saints seeking the Lord and we should continue to seek to be one in him. If not for the voices that stand up and "rebel" against wrong ideas that seem to creep into the hearts of some, we would not continue to move forward.