The Next Wave of Mormon development

[no1saint]

I think it's a general consensus that transformative change is not in the immediate future for the Church. The only unknown factor is the life span of the next five Prophets. Of course, the pipeline of future GA's and Apostles is probably already full. I imagine vetting is an ongoing process in the event of succession being an immediate concern.

[Corsair]

I think it's a general consensus that transformative change is not in the immediate future for the Church. The only unknown factor is the life span of the next five Prophets. Of course, the pipeline of future GA's and Apostles is probably already full. I imagine vetting is an ongoing process in the event of succession being an immediate concern.

Right. LDS leadership will not take any chances on getting a radical reformer on the Board of Directors (ie, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles). At every possible stage of LDS leadership there is an unintentional winnowing process that preserves and advances only the most loyal company men. It's no dishonor to serve as a bishop then get released, never to advance up to Stake President. Behind the scenes each leader is evaluated and only the most diligent supporters of LDS thought are put in place for advancement.

[oliver_denom]

I think it's a general consensus that transformative change is not in the immediate future for the Church. The only unknown factor is the life span of the next five Prophets. Of course, the pipeline of future GA's and Apostles is probably already full. I imagine vetting is an ongoing process in the event of succession being an immediate concern.

Right. LDS leadership will not take any chances on getting a radical reformer on the Board of Directors (ie, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles). At every possible stage of LDS leadership there is an unintentional winnowing process that preserves and advances only the most loyal company men. It's no dishonor to serve as a bishop then get released, never to advance up to Stake President. Behind the scenes each leader is evaluated and only the most diligent supporters of LDS thought are put in place for advancement.

It sounds like what the church may need is an unlikely event. They either need an apostle who is called and then goes through a faith transition, or an existing leader who goes through a transition but keeps it private and is then elevated. The church is quite adept at teaching people who to hide doubts, and it's not a difficult stretch to imagine that those elevated to the top are perhaps the best at it. Once in the 12, it's just a matter of waiting.

For example, what if David Bednar accepts that neither he nor anyone else has personally seen Jesus? What if he has a belief that being elevated to prophet is the final key to allow that sort of visitation, but it never comes? That could be enough to take him along the path where he concludes that it's him calling the shots and not God, that he should therefore go in different directions.

[no1saint]

I think it's a general consensus that transformative change is not in the immediate future for the Church. The only unknown factor is the life span of the next five Prophets. Of course, the pipeline of future GA's and Apostles is probably already full. I imagine vetting is an ongoing process in the event of succession being an immediate concern.

Right. LDS leadership will not take any chances on getting a radical reformer on the Board of Directors (ie, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles). At every possible stage of LDS leadership there is an unintentional winnowing process that preserves and advances only the most loyal company men. It's no dishonor to serve as a bishop then get released, never to advance up to Stake President. Behind the scenes each leader is evaluated and only the most diligent supporters of LDS thought are put in place for advancement.

It sounds like what the church may need is an unlikely event. They either need an apostle who is called and then goes through a faith transition, or an existing leader who goes through a transition but keeps it private and is then elevated. The church is quite adept at teaching people who to hide doubts, and it's not a difficult stretch to imagine that those elevated to the top are perhaps the best at it. Once in the 12, it's just a matter of waiting.

For example, what if David Bednar accepts that neither he nor anyone else has personally seen Jesus? What if he has a belief that being elevated to prophet is the final key to allow that sort of visitation, but it never comes? That could be enough to take him along the path where he concludes that it's him calling the shots and not God, that he should therefore go in different directions.

Very true there. A senior figure having a crisis of faith or at least a softening of dogmatic beliefs. Or a catastrophic development that could drastically alter the direction of the Church similar to the JS death or the Edmund Tuckers Act that ultimately forced the ending of Polygamy. What could shift the ground so much under the Church for it to abandon or alter significant doctrine?

[moksha]

8. DAB - Oversaw the development of spreading the gospel through biological contagion. Scientists at the Intermountain Institute of Missionary Epidemiology were able to construct a virus strain which they named the Parvobednaris virus. That airborne virus was highly contagious and infected individuals contracted Infectious Mormonitus which rendered them highly susceptible to suggestion and induced obedience to perceived authority. Immediately following dispersal of the aerosolized virus within a limited area, LDS missionaries began their conversions.

[2bizE]

I'd like to see Uchtdorf get in for a while. Maybe move church headquarters to Germany.

[no1saint]

8. DAB - Oversaw the development of spreading the gospel through biological contagion. Scientists at the Intermountain Institute of Missionary Epidemiology were able to construct a virus strain which they named the Parvobednaris virus. That airborne virus was highly contagious and infected individuals contracted Infectious Mormonitus which rendered them highly susceptible to suggestion and induced obedience to perceived authority. Immediately following dispersal of the aerosolized virus within a limited area, LDS missionaries began their conversions.

lol - DAB wishes he could be that effective.

[Corsair]

I'd like to see Uchtdorf get in for a while. Maybe move church headquarters to Germany.

The prophet and president of the LDS church is legally and literally the sole member of that corporation and has a lot of latitude that is rarely used. I think that would be hilarious if Dieter moved headquarters to Germany.

[oliver_denom]

I'd like to see Uchtdorf get in for a while. Maybe move church headquarters to Germany.

The prophet and president of the LDS church is legally and literally the sole member of that corporation and has a lot of latitude that is rarely used. I think that would be hilarious if Dieter moved headquarters to Germany.

I think one of them should move headquarters to Adam-Ondi-Ahman just to fuck with the squares.