Tag Archives: Neil Andersen

Musings of a Fool

TheParable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

Wise and Foolish Virgins (Source)

I’ve spent a fair amount of time on this blog highlighting things that have contributed to my loss of faith in the direction of the LDS Church.  I began in 2014 shortly after having been released as a bishop.  However, my concerns actually began many years earlier at least regarding certain issues and topics.  I tried to address many of these concerns as a bishop and made honest attempts to be bold, persuasive, and thoughtful as I did.  I discovered that the scriptures are the best way to make a case.  But, I came to realize that even the scriptures or words of Joseph Smith are very often ignored in favor of today’s so called prophets.  “The living oracles” doctrine is the new “stare decisis” of Mormonism.  Sadly.  No one can argue against this statement while being honest, because this is what the Brethren themselves teach.

In fact, the Apostle who preaches this sermon the most is Elder Neal Andersen.  Elder Andersen is a man I happen to like very much.  I find him to be very kind, capable, and sincere.  I think in his mind, not only is NOT sustaining the prophets “the high road to apostasy,” BUT I think he also believes sincerely that sustaining the prophet is the MOST important thing we can do.  That it’s the BEST way we can truly follow Christ.  He leads the Brethren in referring to President Nelson the most in his talks, having named him 98 times in conference since Nelson became president and 23 times in his last Conference talk alone.  (Source)

President Nelson, despite being perhaps the least interesting and least revered president in Church history, “continues to be referenced more than any Latter-day Saint prophet with 133 mentions — whether named, quoted or footnoted” — in this last month’s General Conference.  This clearly demonstrates the idea that this practice of prophet preeminence is becoming more and more prevalent.

Let’s be honest — and intending no disrespect — but, Elder Nelson was never a Church leader most people ever enjoyed listening to in Conference.  His talks were and still are unnotable from a doctrinal or even “interesting” standpoint.  I found myself even as a bishop cringing over his style and his rather creepy, seemingly staged, smiles into the camera.  For me, he’s never been someone I’ve been very inspired by.

Most telling of all as to what perhaps his own peers have thought of him for the last 50 years comes from the very telling comment his wife Wendy made shortly after being installed as Church president, when she said that the new prophet is finally “unleashed to follow through on all the things he’s wanted to do.”  (Source)   Think about the implication of that statement!  The Brethren claim they collaborate and vigorously debate endlessly together over important issues and that they always vote on those issues and obtain unanimity.  So, apparently, ALL the ideas Elder Nelson ever had for nearly 50 years, even while President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, were rarely or never embraced unanimously by his 14 other colleagues.  Not a sign of one whose ideas were well loved and accepted.

Now think of the converse of that implication–All the ideas Elder Nelson advocated for for nearly 50 years, which the Brethren were largely against, are now magically being put into action.  Translation?  If the Brethren really did ever debate anything, they don’t anymore.  They now blindly do what the prophet wants to do.  What the prophet says IS what they ALL agree on unanimously.

Of course, when it comes time to finally put into place all the changes of President Nelson that everyone was once against, we get statements like this one from Elder Holland:

“I bear my own witness that these adjustments are examples of the revelation that has guided this Church from its beginning. They are yet more evidence that the Lord is hastening His work in its time.”   (Source)

Here’s a list of some of the “adjustments” that have been made since Nelson became prophet:

2018

March 26, 2018 — The First Presidency updates guidelines on preventing and responding to abuse.

March 31, 2018 — Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Elder Ulisses Soares are sustained as Apostles; priesthood quorums are restructured as high priests and elders combined into one elders quorum.

April 1, 2018 — Ministering replaces home and visiting teaching.

May 9, 2018 — The Church will end relationship with Boy Scouts of America, announces new activity program for children and youth.

June 18, 2018 — Hymnbook and Children’s Songbook will be revised to create new, unified editions for the worldwide Church.

June 20, 2018 — A First Presidency letter announces new guidelines for youth interviews.

June 22, 2018 — A new and improved version of “Preach My Gospel” is released.

Aug. 16, 2018 — President Nelson issues a statement on using the full name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (He later addresses this topic in general conference, and changes are made to Church websites, social media accounts, mobile apps, etc.)

Sept. 4, 2018 — The first volume of “Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days” is released.

Sept. 5, 2018 — Missionary candidates will receive assignments online instead of in the mail.

Oct. 6, 2018 — Home-centered, Church-supported gospel study and adjustments to the Sunday meeting schedule are announced.

Oct. 30, 2018 — Some Church-produced pageants are discontinued.

Nov. 16, 2018 — All young missionary candidates — including prospective service missionaries ‚ will use the missionary online recommendation process.

Dec. 14, 2018 — Changes announced for Primary progression, young men priesthood ordination and youth temple recommends.

Dec. 20, 2018 — Sister missionaries have the option to wear dress pants.

2019

Jan. 2, 2019 — The First Presidency releases statement on temples.

Feb. 15, 2019 — Missionaries are authorized to communicate with their families each week on preparation day by text, online messaging, phone calls and video chats.

March 22, 2019 — Seminary curriculum will align with “Come, Follow Me.”

April 4, 2019 — Children of parents who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender may now be blessed as infants and baptized without First Presidency approval.

May 6, 2019 — One-year waiting period for temple sealings after civil marriage is discontinued.

July 19, 2019 — The Church announces stakes in the U.S. and Canada will sponsor biennial For the Strength of Youth (FSY) conferences modeled after BYU’s Especially for Youth program.

Aug. 16, 2019 — The Church announces new training course to help adults know how to prevent and respond to child abuse.

Sept. 5, 2019 — Book of Mormon Videos series release dates are announced.

Oct. 2, 2019 — Women, youth and children may now serve as witnesses of sealing and baptismal ordinances.

Oct. 5, 2019 — Ward Young Men presidencies are discontinuednew Young Women theme, class name and structure changes are announced.

Oct. 6, 2019 — President Nelson announces revised temple recommend questions2020 will be “bicentennial year” with April conference “different from any previous conference.”

Nov. 15, 2019 — The Church releases new missionary handbook.

Nov. 17, 2019 — New Aaronic Priesthood quorum theme announced.

Dec. 17, 2019 — The First Presidency releases statement on Church finances.

2020

Jan. 17, 2020 — Adjustments are made to ceremonial temple clothing.

Jan 30, 2020 — The Church announces new administrative handbook for all Church leaders and members to replace Handbook 1 and Handbook 2.

April 4, 2020 — A new Church symbol is introduced.

April 5, 2020 — President Nelson issues “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World.”

April 17, 2020 — The First Presidency releases administrative principles for the Church during challenging times.

June 12, 2020 — Blue dress shirts, no ties are approved as missionary attire exceptions.

Aug. 14, 2020 — The First Presidency announces three global Church magazines will replace the current four; Ensign title is retired and New Era renamed.

Aug. 25, 2020 — Church members can now submit names to temple prayer rolls online.

Nov. 20, 2020 — President Nelson gives his worldwide message on healing power of gratitude.

(Source for the above)

It’s ironic that the least popular prophet, ignored by his peers largely for 50 years, now makes the MOST changes to Church policy (and doctrine) and funny enough, becomes “popular” among the people (in a way) for having made so many changes.  (Examples above such as shorter Church!  No more home teaching!  Home church for a bit!  Shorter temple times with less effort!  No more dresses for girl missionaries!  More casual dress requirements for boy missionaries!  More temples in cool places!  Civil marriage today and sealed tomorrow!  Missionaries able to call home every week!  No more Boy Scouts!!!  Kids with gay parents can be baptized! Etc.)  I think anyone would be more popular if they enacted these kinds of changes.

But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves and let’s be very honest again.  Some of my closest very active Mormon friends have told me discreetly they strongly disagree with and even dislike President Nelson despite all the exciting changes he’s made. And why would that be?  Here are just a few of the reasons:

  1. “While home church is AMAZING and BETTER in every way than Church-church, why did the Church NOT fight for our religious freedoms and rights of assembly during CoVid like other Churches did?”
  2. “Why did the Church make me wear a mask once it began opening its doors, and why couldn’t we sing, and why were we forced to sit 6 feet apart, and attend only every other week, etc?”
  3. “Why did the Church not let us come every week and yet told Priesthood holders they could not do Sacrament in their homes for many of those weeks and why can’t people who still feel vulnerable to CoVid and are still not attending, do Sacrament in their homes in most cases?”
  4. “Why do I need permission from the Church to do Sacrament in my home anyway?”
  5. “Why has the Church been so friendly with the world and why are they pushing that we need to be good global citizens, by wearing a mask as a ‘sign of Christlike love,’ and by forcing vaccinations on its members?”
  6. “Why in the hell (direct quote) does my 18-year old son or daughter have to get a vaccine to go on a mission or to attend a Church college, especially when they’ve already had CoVid?”
  7. “Why won’t the Church grant religious exemptions for people who a) don’t believe the vaccine is right for them and b) don’t want to inject themselves with anything that comes from aborted fetuses?”
  8. “Why is the Church NOT preaching in favor of our Constitution and the liberties it ought to want to safeguard that are GOD GIVEN?!”
  9. “Why is the Church saying we should trust science and medical people, when those same “scientists” are in favor of gender surgeries, abortion, etc?!”
  10. “How can the Church say vaccines are safe and effective when there have been almost 1 million adverse effects “reported” on VAERS, many of which have been deaths of young people, mothers, teens, children etc. AND tens of thousands of permanent disabilities!?”
  11. “How on earth can the Church sit back while elections are stolen and the Constitution is being destroyed?”
  12. “How can the Church be okay with one of its own Apostles contributing to political campaigns?”
  13. “How come the Church congratulated Joe Biden while the election was still being legally contested?”
  14. “Why does the Church seem to hate President Trump so much and yet seems to give folks like Joe Biden, Jeff Flake, Mitt Romney, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, et al, a free pass?”
  15. “Why is the Church so pro-illegal immigration?”
  16. “Why is the Church investing in Facebook, Pfeizer, the UN, and a million other entities it should disagree with?”
  17. “Why not invest in sports betting, porn, strip clubs, pay day loans, and pawn shops, if the whole goal is to just make money?”

I could add many of my own concerns, many of which I’ve spoken about on this blog.  But, the point is that many, many LDS people are very upset with President Nelson about one or more of these above issues, hence the reason we are seeing historically low Church attendance/activity and growth rates.  Another irony.

One faithful LDS mom took to the internet and read an open letter to President Nelson.  I strongly recommend you listen to it.  Her plea is incredibly sincere and needs to be shared and heard by the Brethren.

One friend who was a bishop recently told me, “Hey I will deny this in public, but I can’t stand this man leading the Church.”  Another two friends confided in me that for the first time in their lives they believe the prophet can and IS leading people astray.

Add to the above list of concerns many have over a billionaire apostle being granted a “special dispensation” to be able to keep his company interests alive.  So much for no purse or scrip and setting aside fish nets to become fishers of men.

AND secret accounts that only 7 people know about in the world where 126 billion tithing dollars are being gambled on the stock market…

AND the Church becoming more and more progressive on social issues including all things LGBTQ… meanwhile my gay friends have never felt less welcome or interested in Church…  (In other words the Church has a credibility problem).

I think for the first time in my life we are seeing the beginning of the end of the Church’s ability to keep things from falling apart.  I predict we are about to see a mass exodus from the Church.

Interestingly, the Church, for all its postering and unsupported policy impositions, is very sensitive to negative news and to member protests.  Look at what happened recently with the Manti temple when members finally began to protest the Church for its decision to remove original pioneer murals.  The Church went from “Pound sand!” to “Oh so sorry, we’ve heard you!  And we’ve prayed again and good news!  Jesus changed his mind!  He wants us to keep the murals after all!”

The important thing to remember in all this is, DON’T just sit back and trust your leaders blindly!  I know Mormons hate that word “blindly” (along with the word Mormon) and always contend that they don’t follow the prophet blindly…  However… I have family members who literally have told me that they are getting the vaccine because the prophet told them to!  And even if they DIE, they will not regret following the prophet NO MATTER WHAT!  How is this not blind obedience?

Well, I rant.  And I don’t mean to.  Readers will notice that I don’t post much anymore.  This has been largely for two reasons.  1) I really don’t find any enjoyment at this late point in the game to be critical of the Church.  Things are getting too serious and I have too many people I love too dearly who are still faithful members of the Church.  My hope for sharing my concerns has ALWAYS been with the desire to help people simply be willing to think for themselves and to focus on the Lord, not on men.  2) I am not a prophet or one who has words yet that can help produce faith.  I am not one of His servants.  For this reason, I am always reluctant to say anything at all.

And hence why I call these the musings of a fool, which I implore you NOT to give any heed to unless they turn you to the Lord, to the scriptures, or to those He calls.  I am truly a fool before God and man, but I also truly hope He can redeem me and I pray I can learn how to serve Him and love Him better.

I will say this, however.  I have absolutely found a new home in the Restoration movement.  For any reading this blog who may be unaware of what that even means, I would refer you to these resources:

TheTenTalks.com

Scriptures.info

Here you can find a treasure trove of what I believe is God’s word as shared by at least one He has called to continue the work started through Joseph Smith.

The Church cannot save you, does not appear concerned with building Zion (i.e. a safe place to flee to during the troubles fast approaching) or saving the Constitution and will damn the people that follow them and hearken to their teachings if they have not been in the presence of God and His Angels.

The words you will hear in the Ten Talks above will better describe the work now underway AND will show you where you and your loved ones can land when you realize the dire and awful situation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Silver and Gold Have We Tons

Mormon Wealth

Bare Record blog pointed to an interesting article recently on the Church’s Newsroom website that was taken down apparently at about the same time the news broke that the Chuch is being accused of misusing and hoarding over $100,000,000,000.00 in cash.  (I’ve posted the text of the article below).  The article removed by the Church News reports on Elder Neil Andersen’s somewhat recent trip to Zimbabwe where he told their vice president, “We are not a wealthy people but we are good people, and we share what we have.”

I suppose one could argue that Elder Andersen was referring to the members of the Church in Zimbabwe when he said: “We are not a wealthy people …”  I don’t think this was the case especially since now that the Church has buried the story altogether, but it is possible.

There are an estimated 23,000 Mormons in Zimbabwe and it’s very likely they are very, very poor.

Zimbabwe’s per capita GDP is $600, the third lowest in the world. The average wage is $253 a month—and that’s for the 30 percent of the population who are employed. The highest government salary is $508 per month.  (Source)

And yet, Zimbabwe is one of the most expensive countries to live in.  This translates to — members of the Church, like most people in that country, living in absolute squalor.

Image result for Zimbabwe poor

Zimbabwe is the second most impoverished nation in the world. Click on image for source.

In my travels to Africa, I had the opportunity to visit with some of the members of the Church in another nation considered richer than Zimbabwe.  I was overwhelmed by the poverty I witnessed there.  I was told I could not give money to the people in the streets by my LDS escorts.  I ignored their demand and was richly blessed by sharing whatever I could when they weren’t looking.

Members in that nation often worked for the Church in some capacity and while the Church did often pay slightly more than the going rate to many of them — most of them did not even have clean water to drink and still lived in abject poverty.  In fact, the Stake President at the time did not have running water in his home (nor did any members in his stake) and in his case, he was lucky enough to have a water faucet on his small lot, although the water was not potable.  No toilets in the homes either, just a hole in the ground a few feet outside the home if lucky.  His home was very small and was built with cinder blocks.  It had one bedroom and one other room.  Their “kitchen” was a gas burner on the porch.  Their shower consisted of taking a small bucket of cold dirty water from the faucet, with a sponge and some soap and pouring it on yourself while squatting in a filthy dirty concrete 2′ by 3′ shed.  This was preferable to bathing in the river.

My business colleague and I were not allowed at first to travel by ourselves.  We were driven around by a white LDS driver from compound to compound.  When we entered the Mission Home, the guard checked our van for explosives as we entered the armed gated small office complex.  When we went anywhere it was with this kind of security.  The Mission Home I’m guessing was a $10,000 or more per month property, based on prices I saw for comparable spaces there.  The Mission President and many of the couples serving with them lived in beautiful luxury apartments equipped with anything you’d enjoy in the US.  Washer, dryer, dishwasher, 4+ bedrooms, beautiful furniture, etc.  Clean water!  Clean dishes!  Showers, bathtubs, toilets, flooring, A/C!  Heat!  These were things that NO member of the Church in that region of Africa had.  Even members who worked full time for the Church lived in shacks.

We finally decided to shake our security detail and went to see the real Africa.  We hung out in the streets, we visited small businesses, and we went to a Christian church where members were singing praises to God.  There was no piano, no musical instrument, no anything.  They just had their angelic voices and they had their faith.  It was then that I felt the Spirit of God —  among the people with no security.  Not dressed up like clergy or businessmen.  Among the people who the white leaders were afraid to visit and to whom they refused to give their money.

I imagined all the things I could do for these people if I just had more resources.  What a difference it would make to have access to clean water, a toilet, plumbing, electricity.  How easy it would be for the Church to spend money on making these poor people’s lives a little better.  At least for the members who they are taking tithing from.  Build a hospital!  Build a city in Africa instead of in Florida.  Build affordable clean small homes where members can live with some dignity and comfort.  Create a huge garden and only send service missionaries who live among the people.  Bring modern medicine.  Bring compassion.

Fast forward to Neil Andersen’s visit with the president of Zimbabwe.

“We are not a wealthy people but we are good people, and we share what we have.”

I could be wrong, but this comment seems more likely to align with what I experienced first hand in Africa.  Otherwise stated:  “Don’t let them know you have money, or they will mob you.”  I find it truly sad if this is the selfish sentiment behind the mask of feigned love and generosity.

We should be spending billions of dollars around the world to help alleviate suffering.  Here and abroad.  Just hoarding that kind of money to me is sinful, especially considering that the money doesn’t even belong to them anyway.  The greatest portion belongs to those who give the most.  And the widow’s mite goes to members you’ll find in Zimbabwe and in Provo alike who simply have nothing to give but who are compelled to give in order to receive the blessings of the Temple.

Elder Andersen, they are not a wealthy people and they are sharing all they have with you and those around them.  But what are we doing for them?  With 100 Billion Dollars, we could literally change their world.

I personally hope there’s an accounting from the Church for those sacred funds.  I don’t care if the funds are somehow called non-sacred because they’ve been laundered through the Stock Market.  It’s still all tithing money and we as members have a right to know what it’s been used for.

Imagine if the accusation is true that the Church took money from these sacred funds and used them to bail out the failing City Creek Project allegedly to the tune of $1.3B.  That’s over a Billion Dollars wasted on empty mall and condo spaces.  How many homes could be built with that money alone?  Even at the high cost of $250 a square meter in Zimbabwe, a beautiful clean little home or apartment could be built for $30,000.  This would mean that with 100B, you could build more than 3.3 million homes, one for every active member of the Church.

The Church is defending itself as is expected.  I can’t speak to whether they have done anything illegal, but I can say that hoarding and stockpiling the widow’s mite is repulsive especially while pretending to be poor and humble.

 


Retracted article from Church Newsroom

News Release

Elder Andersen meets with Zimbabwe’s Vice President Mohadi, pledges support

A Historic Visit

Elder Neil L. Andersen, a member of The Quorum of The Twelve Apostles from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has concluded a historic visit to the office of Zimbabwe’s Vice President, His Excellency K. Mohadi.

Elder Andersen discussed with Vice President Mohadi plans to assist with development, education, improvement of health services and strengthening of families. He pledged support and love for the people of Zimbabwe, noting that the Southern African country was now home to more than 30,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Elder Andersen was accompanied by his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, and by Elder Joseph W. Sitati, 1st Counselor in the Africa Southeast Area Presidency, and his wife Sister Gladys Sitati, and by President Phillip Mathemera, president of the Zimbabwe Harare South Stake.“One thing we have learned as being disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ is that we put more on what we feel than what we see, and when we are with the people of Zimbabwe, we feel the love of God for them, and we feel their goodness,” Elder Andersen said in an interview following the meeting of November 14, 2018.Elder Andersen said the significance of the meeting with Vice President Mohadi was to “express to him our desire to help improve Zimbabwe.” He noted that Vice President Mohadi had made a specific request for support with the development of clean-water wells in more remote areas of Zimbabwe.“We want to help in every way we can,” said Elder Andersen. “We are not a wealthy people but we are good people, and we share what we have,” he added.Before meeting Vice President Mohadi, Elder Andersen briefly met with Hon. Minister Davis Marapira, who expressed gratitude for Elder Andersen’s visit and reiterated the government’s desire to revive the economy, attract investment and drive rural development.Marapira is the former Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement.

Elder Andersen said he expected to meet with Zimbabwean President, His Excellency Emmerson Mnangagwa during his visit to Harare, however, the planned visit coincided with a trip by the President to Kenya.“We wish him well. We are thankful for his attitude and his desire to help this country.  We pray very deeply that he can be successful. We know he’s a believing man, and we pray that he will pray, and that the blessings of Heaven could be upon him, upon his leaders and the people and that there can be progress economically in this country,” said Elder Andersen.Elder Andersen also shared with Vice President Mohadi news that the Church planned to begin construction of the Harare Temple in late 2019, an edifice that will bring special blessings to the people of Zimbabwe.The current number of Temples either operating, announced, or under construction in Africa is nine.