Salt Lake Tribune columnist Gordon Monson examines what works and didn't at LDS General Conference.
Love is spoken here, but that message can be lost when revered leaders focus on mortal danger and eternal doom.
What then? What if you feel not drawn into the restored gospel’s glory, but shoved in a fit of concern or shame or fear or sadness toward the door? They said those multitudes of poor souls have a diminished fate in the eternities — unless they accept the Latter-day Saint gospel in this life or through— that will disallow them from being with members of their families forever in the hereafter.
There isn’t anything wrong with a little nudging, a call for repentance. Correction isn’t always a destructive thing or at least it doesn’t have to be. Spiritual hugs can be accompanied by encouragement to do better. The guess here is that most Latter-day Saints welcome that. I prefer the first part of a quote attributed to founding church prophet Joseph Smith, who was lauded several times during this conference, when he long ago prefaced eventual punishments for the seriously wicked with: “Our Heavenly Father is more liberal in his views and boundless in his mercies and blessings than we are ready to believe or receive.”Current leaders may see themselves as teachers, and that’s all good. Teach at conference. Enlighten. Expand understanding. Instruct.
General authority Seventy Alan T. Phillips speaks at General Conference on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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